Senators Press Trump’s FDA Pick on Trump’s Health Moves

“You have my commitment to follow the independent scientific review process at the FDA,” Marty Makary told Sen. Patty Murray.

Marty Makary

When asked if he would work to speed the pace of drug approvals, nominee Marty Makary’s answer was “an emphatic yes.” Bill Clark/AP

During his hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions this morning, FDA commissioner nominee Marty Makary found himself being asked to answer for some of the changes made to the health agencies since President Donald Trump took office.

Both Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Patty Murray pressed Makary on the recent cancellation of an FDA vaccine advisory committee meeting that would have chosen the strains to be used in the next flu vaccine — a move colored by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s history on vaccinations.

“I think one of the laudable things about Secretary Kennedy’s positions is he wants more transparency in terms of how the federal government makes medical decisions as part of restoring that faith,” said Cassidy. “Frankly, this seems to kind of go backwards on that.”