Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Dr. Marty Makary has resigned as the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This marks the fourth significant departure from the Trump administration in the current year.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Trump expressed his appreciation for Makary's service, stating, "He's a great doctor and he was having some difficulty, but he's going to go on, and he's going to do well." Trump also revealed on Truth Social that Kyle Diamantas, the FDA's top food regulator, would step in as the acting commissioner. The president conveyed his gratitude towards Makary in a post, highlighting his accomplishments and hard work at the FDA. Trump described Diamantas, who will temporarily fill the position, as "a very talented person."

Dr. Marty Makary, a renowned surgeon and professor emeritus at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, had a distinguished career prior to his role at the FDA. Meanwhile, Kyle Diamantas, who is set to assume the acting commissioner role, is a lawyer without a medical background.

NBC News reported that Makary's resignation followed the FDA's decision to approve fruit-flavored vapes for adults in the US, a move that faced industry and presidential pressure. Makary reportedly opposed this decision and chose not to publicly defend it, leading to his departure. His exit adds to the list of significant resignations from the Trump administration this year, which includes former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, former Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned during a misconduct investigation in April.