Kyle Diamantas, a former corporate lawyer who once defended a baby formula maker against claims of harming premature infants, has been named acting commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). President Donald Trump described him as a 'very talented person.'
Background and Previous Role
Diamantas most recently served as the FDA deputy commissioner for food, overseeing nutrition and food safety protocols. According to the FDA website, he 'set the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the U.S.' while acting as a liaison between the FDA, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House. He also represented the agency in international food-related dealings with foreign governments and organizations.
His appointment follows the resignation of Marty Makary on Tuesday, whose 13-month tenure was marked by bipartisan frustration. Makary clashed with lawmakers over drug regulation decisions and a review of the abortion medication mifepristone, which conservative members accused him of slow-walking. Trump signed off on firing Makary earlier this month after admonishing him for not approving fruit-flavored vapes, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Interim Leadership and Search for Permanent Commissioner
Diamantas will not hold the role permanently. On Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted that 'the search for a new [FDA] Commissioner is already underway, and we will move forward with urgency.' Kennedy thanked Diamantas for his leadership, which he says has 'already delivered remarkable wins on the MAHA food agenda.'
Within the agency, Diamantas is seen as a non-controversial interim leader, according to the Washington Post. Two former officials noted that he avoided controversy by retaining senior leadership at the Human Foods Program (HFP), unlike other centers with high turnover.
Legal Career and Controversies
Diamantas, 38, left Miami law firm Jones Day to join the FDA in February 2025. As a partner, he defended Abbott Laboratories in a lawsuit alleging the company failed to warn parents that its premature infant formula increased the risk of a deadly gastrointestinal condition. In 2024, Abbott lost the case and was ordered to pay $495 million. A Missouri appellate court upheld the decision in May 2026.
He is reportedly a close friend of Donald Trump Jr. A 2021 X post by Mike Tussey, founder of Osceola Outdoors, shows the two holding dead birds with the caption: 'Don Jr. With his good friend Kyle Diamantas! Kyle’s first Osceola!'
Diamantas has frequented the MAHA podcast circuit, appearing with health influencers like Paul Saladino, who promotes a carnivore diet, and 'biohacker' Gary Brecka.
Professional Background and Qualifications
Diamantas holds a juris doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and has no medical experience. Before Jones Day, he was a senior associate at Baker Donelson in Orlando. His archived Jones Day biography describes him as having 'more than 10 years of experience advising food, cosmetic, dietary supplement, drug, and other life sciences and consumer goods clients on regulatory, compliance, and enforcement matters.'
He replaced former deputy commissioner Jim Jones, who resigned in February 2025 over mass federal layoffs.
Key Achievements and Policy Stance
A key responsibility was updating dietary guidelines, including inverting the traditional food pyramid to place meats and vegetables at the widest point. Officials say this aligns with the MAHA agenda to 'help prevent the onset or slow the rate of progression of chronic disease.'
In a December 2025 interview with Politico, Diamantas cited the removal of petroleum-based artificial dyes from food products as his biggest achievement. On ultra-processed foods, he said: 'We’re not looking to ban people from eating ultra-processed foods. If you want to go have a box of Ding Dongs after this, you can do that. This is America. What we’re saying is people should understand what these products are, and consumers should make choices.'
He acknowledged his prior work for Abbott, noting a one-year recusal from infant formula matters, but said he planned to 'dive back into infant formula' to ensure safety from chemical additives and microbiological issues, citing a recent botulism outbreak.
Secretary Kennedy appointed Diamantas as senior counselor for the FDA in February 2026, a role he held alongside deputy commissioner duties.
