Problems at the FDA

May 9, 2026, 17:52
USPolitics

Introduction

Marty Makary is the leader of the FDA. He has many problems with the government. Some people say he will lose his job.

Main Body

The FDA has many problems. President Trump wanted the FDA to allow fruit-flavored vapes for young people. Makary did this. But some other leaders are angry because the FDA is slow with a medicine called mifepristone. Many leaders at the FDA change their jobs quickly. Some new leaders do not have the right skills. The FDA also hid some information about vaccine safety. Old workers say the office is now a mess. Some companies say the FDA is bad for business. But other people say the FDA is now more independent. Makary says he listens to science, not to politicians.

Conclusion

Some reports say President Trump wants to fire Makary. But President Trump says this is not true.

Learning

⚡ Quick Word Switch: 'Some' vs 'Many'

In this story, we see two words used to talk about groups of people. They change how much we think is happening.

1. MANY →\rightarrow A large number.

  • "Many problems"
  • "Many leaders"
  • Use this when the situation is big.

2. SOME →\rightarrow A small or unknown number.

  • "Some people"
  • "Some companies"
  • Use this when you are not talking about everyone.

🛠️ Simple Action: 'Say' and 'Want'

Look at how the text describes what people think. These are the most useful words for A2 level:

WordMeaningExample from Text
SayTo speak a fact"Some reports say..."
WantTo wish for something"Trump wants to fire..."

Tip: If the person is one man or woman (He/She), add an -s to the end: Say →\rightarrow Says / Want →\rightarrow Wants.

Vocabulary Learning

leader
a person who leads or commands a group
Example:The leader of the school organized the event.
government
the group of people who run a country
Example:The government makes laws for everyone.
job
work that a person does for money
Example:She has a new job at the bank.
problem
a difficulty or issue
Example:We need to solve this problem quickly.
president
the head of a country
Example:The president gave a speech.
trump
the former president of the United States
Example:Trump was the president of the United States.
fda
the agency that checks food and drugs
Example:The FDA approves new medicines.
allow
to give permission
Example:The teacher allows students to use phones.
medicine
a drug that helps people feel better
Example:She took medicine for her cold.
skill
the ability to do something well
Example:He has a skill for drawing.
safety
being free from danger
Example:Safety is important in the workplace.
independent
not controlled by others
Example:The country is independent.
vape
to use an electronic cigarette
Example:He likes to vape after work.
young
not old
Example:The young child played outside.
information
facts or details
Example:She gave me useful information.
office
a room where work is done
Example:He works in the office.
mess
a dirty or untidy place
Example:The kitchen is a mess.
companies
businesses that sell goods
Example:Many companies hired new staff.
business
a place where goods are sold
Example:He started a small business.
science
the study of nature
Example:Science helps us understand the world.
politicians
people who run governments
Example:Politicians make decisions.
reports
written accounts
Example:The reports show growth.
fire
to remove someone from a job
Example:They decided to fire the manager.
true
correct or real
Example:The statement is true.