Senate Panel Advances Nominations for NIH, FDA Heads

Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya must receive a Senate majority vote to gain confirmation for their posts.

Dr. Marty Makary (L), President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, greets Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) as he arrives to testify during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington on March 6, 2025. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s picks to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) advanced through the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on March 13.

Dr. Marty Makary would head the FDA if confirmed, while Dr. Jay Bhattacharya would direct the NIH.