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FDA nominee addresses recent staff cuts, divestment and recusal commitments, and post‑market surveillance
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Summary
Dr. Marty Makary told senators he will assess recent personnel cuts at the FDA if confirmed, has voluntarily divested investments flagged in an ethics review, and supports stronger post‑market surveillance and review of user‑fee uses.
Dr. Marty Makary told the Senate HELP Committee that he would undertake an assessment of personnel, staffing and funding at the Food and Drug Administration if confirmed, responding to multiple senators’ concerns about recent layoffs and the agency’s ability to carry out inspections and reviews.
"If confirmed, you have my commitment that I will do an assessment within the agency of personnel," Dr. Makary said, adding that he would seek to ensure scientists and inspectors "have all the resources they need to do their job."
Several senators told the nominee that roughly 10 percent of FDA staff had been laid off in recent weeks and asked whether the agency could continue to carry out food and device inspections, review generic applications and sustain post‑market surveillance. Dr. Makary said he would review staffing and also urged use of modern tools — including artificial intelligence — to aid reviewers and to strengthen post‑approval monitoring.
On ethics and potential conflicts, Dr. Makary said he had completed an extensive disclosure review with the Office of Government Ethics, voluntarily divested interests and agreed to recusals the ethics office deemed necessary. "I chose voluntarily to divest and resign from everything," he said, and told senators he had signed to agree to recusals as defined by the office.
Senator Ed Markey and others raised questions about the nominee’s past work with firms such as Global Appropriateness Measures and asked for transparency on payments from private equity‑backed companies and insurers. Dr. Makary said detailed information had been provided to the Office of Government Ethics and that he had accepted the agency’s divestment and recusal recommendations.
The nominee also supported the idea of giving the FDA authority to use user fees for post‑market surveillance of medical devices — a change that requires congressional action — and said better post‑approval monitoring could help identify safety signals earlier.
Dr. Makary said he would review terminations requested under recent management guidance and would consider rehiring personnel where appropriate, while also noting that some positions may be vacant due to long periods of inactivity. Several senators asked him to examine specific terminations in areas such as the tobacco center and food inspections; he said he would do so if confirmed.
