Trump plans to fire FDA chief amid abortion pill backlash

WorldPolitics
9 May 2026 • 5:12 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Trump plans to fire FDA chief amid abortion pill backlash

  • President Donald Trump is reportedly considering firing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administrator Marty Makary due to pressure from anti-abortion groups.
  • Anti-abortion activists are dissatisfied with Makary's perceived failure to aggressively restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone.
  • An administration official confirmed Trump has approved a plan to remove Makary, though no action has been taken against him yet.
  • The FDA's approval of a generic version of mifepristone, making the drug potentially more accessible, drew strong criticism from anti-abortion advocates.
  • Mifepristone, used for medical abortions, has become a critical option for women in states with abortion bans, with the Supreme Court recently restoring its nationwide access temporarily.

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