SouthernWorldwide.com – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is experiencing significant leadership turnover, with Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, the former acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), being the second high-ranking official to leave the organization in less than a week. Høeg has claimed she was fired on Friday.
Høeg’s departure follows that of Dr. Marty Makary, the former FDA Commissioner, who publicly resigned on Tuesday. Rumors had been circulating for days that President Donald Trump was dissatisfied with Makary’s performance.
Dr. Høeg, who collaborated closely with Dr. Makary on drug regulation matters, was appointed as the head of CDER in December. She has stated that she did not wish to resign and was compelled to leave her position.
In an interview published on Friday, Høeg told MD Reports, “I said I didn’t want to resign. I said I’m not signing a letter of resignation if it’s not my choice.”
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She further elaborated to the outlet, “They made it clear that it wasn’t their decision. They said it was from someone above them, from someone way above their pay grade.”
The FDA has indicated that Dr. Mike Davis, Høeg’s former deputy, will be taking over her role, according to an internal email obtained by The Associated Press.
While the White House has not yet issued an official statement regarding Høeg’s departure, her exit, along with others, could signal a broader restructuring within the agency following Dr. Makary’s resignation.
Adding to the significant changes, Katherine Szarama, the former director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), is also leaving the agency. Jim Traficant, the FDA’s Chief of Staff, is also departing, according to reports from STAT News.
