U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary speaks during a press conference alongside U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, discussing administration plans to lower drug costs, at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 29, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon/File Photo

(Reuters) -Trump administration officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have discussed scaling back the role of Marty Makary, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The U.S department of Health and Human Services and the White House did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Kennedy considered appointing a leader to run the agency’s daily operations while leaving Makary as a figurehead, amid concerns over infighting among the FDA chief's deputies, the report said.

However, officials decided to drop the idea for now, giving Makary time to improve his leadership of the agency, the report added.

The FDA recently apppointed veteran oncology chief Richard Pazdur to oversee the department that regulates over-the-counter and most prescription drugs, replacing George Tidmarsh, who resigned earlier this month amid serious concerns about his personal conduct.

(Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru, Editing by Louise Heavens)