Donald Trump Orders Removal of Vinay Prasad from FDA Amid Pharma Lobbying and Criticism by Laura Loomer

Vinay Prasad, an FDA official, has come under intense criticism from conservative commentator Laura Loomer and the Wall Street Journal, who accused him of being a socialist due to his cautious approach to approving experimental drugs, even when such drugs have resulted in fatalities. Reports indicate that the directive to remove Prasad from his position was issued directly by former President Donald Trump, overriding objections from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and RFK Jr. Critics of the campaign against Prasad suggest that the attacks are influenced by pharmaceutical industry lobbying, noting that Loomer's recent posts contain technical biotech details and talking points uncommon in her prior work. Defenders of Prasad highlight that Loomer has misrepresented his record, including selectively citing a 2020 post where Prasad praised Anthony Fauci, omitting that he later became a strong critic of Fauci. The controversy suggests a potential shift toward a more permissive regulatory environment under forthcoming leadership at the FDA.