Month: May 2026

Dr. Marty Makary has resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration after a turbulent 13-month run that placed him at the center of political and regulatory battles inside the Trump administration. Makary, a longtime surgeon and professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, first gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as a vocal critic of certain public health restrictions.

The administration is expected to install Kyle Diamantas, formerly the agency’s top food policy official, as acting commissioner while a permanent replacement is considered. The news of Makary’s resignation and Diamantas taking over as acting commissioner was first reported by Politico.

President Trump confirmed Makary’s departure Tuesday, describing him as “a great doctor” who “was having some difficulty,” while adding that “he’s going to go on and do well.” Trump did not clarify whether Makary resigned voluntarily or was pushed out.

According to multiple reports, frustrations had been building within the White House for months, particularly over delays tied to the approval of fruit-flavored vaping products. Trump had publicly supported expanding access to flavored e-cigarettes during the 2024 campaign, and industry leaders reportedly complained that the FDA was moving too slowly. Last week, the agency finally approved several fruit-flavored vape products for adults after sustained pressure from both the administration and vaping companies.

Makary also faced criticism from conservative lawmakers over the FDA’s review of mifepristone, the abortion pill that has remained a flashpoint in national political debates. Republicans had urged the agency to reconsider Biden-era rules allowing the medication to be prescribed through telehealth and delivered by mail. Although the Supreme Court recently allowed nationwide access to continue temporarily, critics accused the FDA of delaying its internal review.

Beyond abortion and vaping policy, Makary’s tenure was marked by broader tensions surrounding vaccine oversight and scientific independence at the agency. Former FDA officials and public health experts raised concerns over delays involving vaccine-related research and other regulatory decisions that appeared influenced by politics rather than established scientific processes.

Makary’s exit adds to a growing list of major departures from Trump’s administration this year, following the exits of Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi and Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

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Federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against the companies responsible for operating the cargo ship that struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, triggering a catastrophic collapse that killed six construction workers and caused billions of dollars in damage.

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that Singapore-based Synergy Marine and its India-based affiliate, along with technical superintendent Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, were indicted on multiple counts tied to the crash involving the container ship Dali. Authorities say the tragedy stemmed from preventable mechanical and operational failures aboard the nearly 900-foot vessel, which lost power twice while departing the Port of Baltimore before crashing into the bridge during the early hours of March 26, 2024.

The 18 charges listed in the unsealed indictment include conspiracy to defraud the United States, failing to report a known safety hazard to the U.S. Coast Guard, obstruction of an agency investigation, false statements, and misconduct by ship officers resulting in death.

Six road workers repairing potholes on the bridge were killed when the structure collapsed into the Patapsco River. Another worker survived with serious injuries. The disaster also shut down Baltimore’s busy shipping channel for weeks and launched a costly rebuilding effort expected to continue for years. “The collapse should never have happened,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent Jimmy Paul, who accused those responsible of prioritizing convenience over safety.

According to prosecutors, operators knowingly relied on an improper fuel system setup for years. Instead of using standard diesel supply pumps equipped with backup systems and automatic restart capabilities, the ship allegedly depended on a “flushing pump” — equipment intended only for maintenance purposes. Investigators believe the pump failed during the vessel’s second blackout, preventing the ship from restoring power quickly enough to avoid the bridge. Maryland U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes said the indictment argues the Dali could have safely passed beneath the bridge had proper fuel pumps been in use.

Officials also allege company personnel attempted to conceal the risky setup after the crash by removing references to the flushing pump from ship logs, engineering records, audits, and crew documentation. Prosecutors say Nair later falsely claimed to National Transportation Safety Board investigators that he had no knowledge of the system being used in that way. A National Transportation Safety Board report released last year found the Dali’s initial power failure was triggered by a loose wire inside the ship’s switchboard, which shut down critical cooling systems and temporarily disabled steering. Although power briefly returned, the second outage proved fatal.

Beyond the criminal case, the ship’s operator and owner have already faced a wave of civil lawsuits from victims’ families, government agencies, businesses, and other affected parties. Previous settlements with the Justice Department and Maryland authorities exceeded $100 million, though additional legal battles remain pending.

Attorneys representing several victims’ families described Tuesday’s indictment as a major moment for accountability within the shipping industry, arguing the allegations reveal deliberate efforts to mislead investigators after the crash.

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Authorities in Seattle are searching for a suspect after a 19-year-old University of Washington student was found dead Sunday night inside a campus-affiliated apartment complex.

Police said the victim, believed to be a transgender woman, was discovered in a laundry room at Nordheim Court Apartments around 10:10 p.m. Officers and firefighters attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say the case is being treated as a homicide, though details surrounding the attack remain unclear.

The suspect is described as a Black man between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8 with a beard and slim build, believed to be between 25 and 30 years old. He was reportedly wearing blue jeans and a button-up shirt with a vest and fled before officers arrived.

“This individual just committed a homicide; they should be considered armed and dangerous,” Seattle Police Detective Eric Munoz said. “If we can provide more information to the public, we will. We don’t believe at this point anyone else is at risk; however, this is still an armed and dangerous homicide suspect. It’s important we catch them and bring them to justice as fast as we can,”

Following the killing, the university issued an emergency alert instructing Nordheim Court residents to remain indoors and lock doors and windows. The shelter-in-place notice was lifted shortly before 1 a.m., though the investigation continued overnight.

Nordheim Court, a UW-affiliated housing complex primarily occupied by students, contains hundreds of apartment units ranging from studios to four-bedroom layouts. Students told local media that buildings and laundry rooms are secured through smartphone-based Bluetooth entry systems. The University of Washington called the incident “deeply distressing” and said counseling and support services are available for students and staff affected by the tragedy.

Seattle police homicide detectives and crime scene investigators continue to process evidence and examine what led up to the killing. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to officially release the victim’s identity, along with the cause and manner of death, in the coming days.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the case is urged to contact the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

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