Trump Selects Johns Hopkins Surgeon Makary to Lead FDA who argued against COVID lockdowns

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President-elect Donald Trump announced his decision to appoint Marty Makary, a prominent Johns Hopkins surgeon and author, as the new head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Makary, known for his critical stance on pandemic lockdowns, will be tasked with overseeing the agency's $7 billion budget and its regulation of the $3.6 trillion market of food, tobacco, and medical products, including approximately 20,000 prescription drugs. Trump stated that Makary would work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick for health secretary, to address critical public health issues, including harmful chemicals in food and drugs.  

 

"He will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation’s food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation’s youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic," Trump declared in his announcement.  

 

Makary rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic as a vocal critic of lockdowns and other public health measures, frequently challenging mainstream recommendations. While he is a respected transplant surgeon, his pandemic commentary drew both support and criticism. He often appeared on Fox News and penned opinion articles questioning the effectiveness of measures such as masking children and mandating vaccines.

 

Although he supported vaccinations, he opposed mandates and doubted the widespread need for booster doses, diverging from the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

 

Makary’s views on natural immunity also became a subject of significant debate. In early 2021, he predicted that much of the U.S. would achieve herd immunity by April, a forecast that proved overly optimistic. Instead, virus-related deaths surged later that year with the emergence of new variants, making 2021 deadlier than the pandemic's first year. Despite this, Makary defended his stance, arguing that natural immunity was underestimated by health officials.  

 

"One reason public health officials may be afraid to acknowledge the effectiveness of natural immunity is that they fear it will lead some to choose getting the infection over vaccination. That's a legitimate concern. But we can encourage all Americans to get vaccinated while still being honest about the data," Makary wrote in *The Washington Post*.  

 

In the aftermath of the pandemic, Makary shifted his focus back to his longstanding critique of the U.S. health care system, which he has described as broken, overpriced, and riddled with unnecessary tests. He also began emphasizing concerns about America's food industry, aligning his views with those of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

 

"We've got a poisoned food supply. We've got pesticides. We've got ultra-processed foods and all sorts of things that have been in the blind spots in modern medicine," Makary said during a September interview with Fox News.  

 

Makary praised Trump's decision to select Kennedy for the role of health secretary, noting their shared commitment to addressing corruption within health agencies. "He wants to address corruption in health care and corruption in our government health agencies," Makary stated. He has also criticized FDA leadership in the past, describing the agency as operating like a "crusty librarian" who favors certain stakeholders over others.  

 

If confirmed by the Senate, Makary’s tenure at the FDA is likely to draw both scrutiny and support as he confronts the agency's role in regulating critical aspects of public health, alongside Kennedy, who also requires Senate confirmation.  

 

Based on a report by ABC News 2024-11-25