President Donald Trump ordered the removal of the FDA’s top vaccine regulator, Vinay Prasad, on Tuesday, going against the wishes of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
According to Politico, Prasad, who had only been in the position for three months, faced increasing criticism from conservative voices, particularly from right-wing figure Laura Loomer, who led a targeted campaign against him.
On July 20, Loomer wrote on her website that Prasad was a “progressive leftist saboteur undermining President Trump’s FDA.” This marked the beginning of an intense campaign by the MAGA influencer, who has become a key Trump advisor, that would eventually lead to Prasad’s dismissal.
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The criticism intensified when Prasad questioned the FDA’s earlier decision to approve Elevidys, a treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The FDA had asked Sarepta Therapeutics to pause shipments of the drug, though the company initially refused for ambulatory patients. The situation was eventually resolved when the FDA allowed distribution to resume for patients who could still walk.
Senator Ron Johnson played a key role in bringing this matter to Trump’s attention. After discussing his concerns with Kennedy and Makary, Johnson texted the president directly on Monday to make him aware of the situation.
Loomer’s campaign against Prasad included highlighting his past social media posts where he identified himself as “a political liberal” and expressed support for Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. She also drew attention to his previous support for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and his stance on universal healthcare and abortion rights.
Dr. George Tidmarsh has been appointed as acting director of the FDA’s biologics center. However, sources familiar with the discussions say the Trump administration is considering splitting the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research into two separate bodies: one for vaccine regulation and another for therapeutics.
Senator Rand Paul, who has followed Prasad’s work, expressed disappointment over the removal, suggesting that pharmaceutical industry influence might have played a role in the decision. Meanwhile, FDA Commissioner Makary praised Prasad in a CNBC interview, calling him a “genius” who made “tremendous” policy changes during his brief tenure.
The dismissal has raised concerns among some officials about the potential appointment of anti-vaccine advocates to the position, particularly given RFK Jr.’s recent replacement of the entire CDC vaccine advisory committee with controversial members. Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group, has called for the new candidate to prioritize transparency and public health over commercial interests.
Makary indicated that while Prasad’s departure was partly attributed to his “brutal” commute from California and his desire to avoid being a “distraction,” the FDA plans to maintain communication with him as they search for a permanent replacement.
Published: Jul 31, 2025 10:01 am