FDA turmoil deepens as top drug chief departs claiming she was fired

In a major shake-up at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), top regulators left on Friday – including Tracy Beth Høeg, the acting drug chief, who says she was fired, and Katherine Szarama, the acting vaccines chief who has only been in the position for days. Jim Traficant, chief of staff, has also been ousted.

The FDA now has no permanent commissioner or deputy commissioner and no permanent leaders of two major centers, after the resignation of Marty Makary on Tuesday and other high-profile departures.

According to an email obtained by the Guardian, FDA staff only received official word on Friday afternoon that Makary is leaving and Kyle Diamantas, previously the top food regulator, will temporarily lead the agency as acting commissioner – though they had clues from President Trump’s social media posts and the reported removal of Makary’s photo from the lobby of FDA headquarters.