Trump has signed off on ousting FDA chief, senior official says | CNN

President Donald Trump has signed off on a plan to oust US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, according to a senior administration official. The decision follows mounting criticism from both Trump aides and outside allies over Makary’s management of the health agency, controversial drug approval decisions and handling of an effort to further limit access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Trump has not yet formally dismissed Makary, and the official and others familiar with the situation cautioned that the president could always change his mind. Asked by CNN’s Kristen Holmes Friday evening if he planned to fire Makary, Trump demurred. “I’ve been reading about it, but I know nothing about it,” he said. Notably, senior White House staffers wer scheduled to meet with anti-abortion activists Friday who have sharply criticized both Makary and Trump personally over a lack of action on restricting mifepristone. Trump and other aides have increasingly discussed the prospect of removing Makary in recent weeks, including surveying outside allies about his job performance and fielding complaints about the agency from pharmaceutical industry officials and ant