Makary. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
The Senate on Tuesday night voted to confirm Marty Makary as FDA commissioner on a 56 to 44 vote.
Why it matters: Makary, a Johns Hopkins physician and researcher, will inherit some thorny debates over access to the widely used abortion pill mifepristone, as well as vaccines.
Driving the news: Makary was careful to avoid giving a firm answer during his confirmation hearing on whether he would revive restrictions on mifepristone, saying he would "do a review of the data" once in office.
- Makary could also be faced with delicate decisions on vaccine policy changes, with vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now HHS secretary.
- Democrats pressed Makary at his hearing on the cancelation of an FDA advisory committee meeting to discuss next year's flu vaccine, for example.
- In the end, Sens. Dick Durbin, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen voted with all Republicans present to confirm Makary.
Between the lines: The FDA already faced one early controversy when Sen. Josh Hawley and anti-abortion advocates objected to the hiring of Hilary Perkins as the agency's chief counsel. The career Justice Department attorney defended access to abortion pills during the Biden administration.
- Perkins resigned ahead of the HELP Committee vote on Makary's nomination.
