Kyle Diamantas Appointed as Acting FDA Commissioner After Marty Makary Resigns

May 13, 2026, 17:26
USPolitics

Introduction

Kyle Diamantas has been named the acting commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after Dr. Marty Makary decided to resign from the position.

Main Body

The leadership change comes after Dr. Makary served for thirteen months, a period marked by internal instability and disagreements with lawmakers. Reports suggest that Makary's resignation was caused by a difference in opinion regarding the approval of fruit-flavored vapes for adults, which he opposed. Furthermore, his time in office was noted for frequent staff changes and claims of political interference in science, although the government officially described his work as productive. Mr. Diamantas is a legal expert without a medical degree who previously worked as the FDA deputy commissioner for food. Before joining the FDA, he was a partner at the law firm Jones Day, where he defended Abbott Laboratories in legal cases about infant formula safety. Although a court upheld a large fine against the company in May 2026, Diamantas followed a one-year period of avoiding these cases when he first joined the FDA in 2025. He has now stated that he intends to manage the safety of infant formula again, focusing specifically on bacteria and other contaminants. In terms of strategy, Diamantas has aligned the agency with the 'MAHA' food agenda. Consequently, he has changed national dietary guidelines to emphasize meats and vegetables and has worked to remove artificial dyes made from petroleum. Despite these changes, he believes consumers should choose for themselves whether to eat ultra-processed foods. Many inside the agency see his appointment as a way to bring stability, as he has kept the senior leaders within the Human Foods Program (HFP).

Conclusion

The administration is now searching for a permanent commissioner while Diamantas continues to lead the agency in the meantime.

Learning

🚀 The 'Connecting' Secret: Moving from A2 to B2

At the A2 level, you probably write short, separate sentences. "He resigned. He disagreed with lawmakers." To reach B2, you need to glue your ideas together using Connectors of Contrast and Consequence.

⚡️ The Power Shift: From 'But' to 'Despite'

Look at how the text moves beyond simple words:

  • Instead of But →\rightarrow Despite / Although

    • A2 Style: He changed the rules, but he thinks people should choose their own food.
    • B2 Style: Despite these changes, he believes consumers should choose for themselves...
    • Rule: Use "Despite" followed by a noun phrase to sound more professional and fluid.

  • Instead of So →\rightarrow Consequently

    • A2 Style: He wants a new food agenda, so he changed the guidelines.
    • B2 Style: ...aligned the agency with the 'MAHA' food agenda. Consequently, he has changed national dietary guidelines...
    • Rule: "Consequently" shows a direct cause-and-effect relationship, which is essential for academic and business English.

🛠️ Vocabulary Upgrade: The 'Vague' to 'Precise' Pipeline

B2 learners stop using generic words like "bad things" or "problems" and use specific terminology. Notice the shift in the article:

A2 Word (Basic)B2 Word (Precise)Context in Text
ProblemsInstability"...marked by internal instability"
Dirty thingsContaminants"...focusing specifically on bacteria and other contaminants"
RulesGuidelines"...changed national dietary guidelines"

Pro Tip: To bridge the gap, start replacing your most used adjectives (good, bad, big, small) with words that describe the exact situation.

Vocabulary Learning

instability (n.)
lack of stability; uncertainty
Example:The company's instability caused investors to lose confidence.
disagreements (n.)
differences in opinion or conflict
Example:The disagreements between the two parties delayed the project.
lawmakers (n.)
politicians who make laws
Example:Lawmakers debated the new healthcare bill in the Senate.
resignation (n.)
the act of quitting a job or position
Example:Her resignation surprised everyone in the company.
opinion (n.)
a personal view or judgment
Example:He expressed his opinion on the new policy in a press release.
approval (n.)
the act of officially agreeing to something
Example:The approval of the new vaccine was announced yesterday.
vapes (n.)
electronic cigarettes that produce vapor
Example:Vapes are popular among teenagers but raise health concerns.
opposed (v.)
to express disagreement or refuse to support
Example:She opposed the decision to close the school.
staff (n.)
employees or workers in an organization
Example:The staff at the hospital worked late to help patients.
interference (n.)
unwanted influence or disruption
Example:Political interference can undermine scientific research.
science (n.)
systematic study of the natural world
Example:Science helps us understand how the universe works.
government (n.)
the system or group that governs a country
Example:The government announced new measures to improve education.
productive (adj.)
effective in producing results
Example:She had a productive meeting with the team.
legal (adj.)
relating to the law
Example:The company hired a legal team to handle the lawsuit.
expert (n.)
a person with extensive knowledge in a field
Example:The expert gave a lecture on climate change.
medical (adj.)
relating to health or medicine
Example:Medical records were kept confidential.
deputy (adj.)
acting in place of someone else
Example:The deputy manager stepped in while the director was away.
law firm (n.)
an office where lawyers work
Example:The law firm represented the client in court.
defended (v.)
to protect or support against criticism
Example:He defended his decision against the accusations.
infant (n.)
a very young child, especially a baby
Example:The infant was born healthy and strong.
formula (n.)
a set of instructions or ingredients for making something
Example:The formula for the new drink was patented.
fine (n.)
a sum of money paid as punishment
Example:The company had to pay a fine for violating safety rules.
avoid (v.)
to stay away from or prevent
Example:She tried to avoid traffic by leaving early.
bacteria (n.)
tiny living organisms that can cause disease
Example:Bacteria can grow quickly in warm, moist environments.
contaminants (n.)
substances that make something impure
Example:The water was found to contain harmful contaminants.
strategy (n.)
a plan of action to achieve a goal
Example:The marketing strategy increased sales by 20%.
aligned (v.)
to bring into agreement or cooperation
Example:The new policies were aligned with the company's values.
agency (n.)
an organization that provides a particular service
Example:The travel agency booked the group's flights.
guidelines (n.)
rules or recommendations to follow
Example:The guidelines for safety were updated last year.
emphasize (v.)
to give special importance to something
Example:The speaker emphasized the need for teamwork.
meats (n.)
animal flesh used as food
Example:He prefers to eat lean meats for protein.
vegetables (n.)
plants or parts of plants eaten as food
Example:A balanced diet includes a variety of vegetables.
remove (v.)
to take away or eliminate
Example:The company decided to remove the outdated software.
artificial (adj.)
made by humans rather than occurring naturally
Example:Artificial sweeteners are used in many low‑calorie drinks.
dyes (n.)
substances used to color materials
Example:The dyes gave the fabric a bright, lasting color.
petroleum (n.)
a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons used as fuel or raw material
Example:Petroleum is refined into gasoline and diesel.
consumers (n.)
people who buy or use goods and services
Example:Consumers demand more sustainable products.
choose (v.)
to pick or select something
Example:You can choose between the blue or green option.
ultra-processed (adj.)
highly refined foods that contain many additives
Example:Eating too many ultra‑processed foods can affect health.
appointment (n.)
the act of assigning a position or role
Example:Her appointment as director was announced last week.
stability (n.)
the quality of being steady and reliable
Example:Economic stability helps attract foreign investment.
senior (adj.)
having more experience or higher status
Example:The senior manager oversaw all regional offices.
leaders (n.)
people who guide or direct others
Example:The leaders of the organization met to discuss strategy.
program (n.)
a planned series of activities or events
Example:The educational program aims to improve literacy.
permanent (adj.)
lasting for a long time or forever
Example:She was looking for a permanent position in the company.
lead (v.)
to guide or direct people or activities
Example:He will lead the new project team.