Squawk Pod

FDA Commissioner Makary & OMB Director Vought 7/22/25

Jul 11, 2025
Guest
Marty Makary
Guest
Russell Vought
Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shares insights on government spending and the Federal Reserve's monetary policies. Marty Makary, the new FDA Commissioner, discusses the challenges of restoring public trust in health agencies amid vaccine hesitancy and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. The guests tackle the rising pressure on economic policies, including President Trump's tariffs on Canada and the audit of the Fed's strategic decisions. Their candid conversation highlights the intersection of healthcare and economics in shaping public perception and policy.
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INSIGHT

Vaccine Mandates Undermine Trust

  • Vaccine mandates for young healthy individuals increased anti-vaccine sentiment and reduced public trust.
  • Ignoring natural immunity contributed significantly to this trust loss, requiring rebuilding through transparency.
INSIGHT

FDA's Radical Transparency and Vaccine Policy Shake-Up

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary reveals a clear shift toward radical transparency and evidence-based vaccine policies to rebuild public trust after the COVID-19 pandemic.

He stresses that vaccine mandates for young, healthy individuals fueled anti-vaccine sentiment and eroded trust by ignoring natural immunity, which led to a 31-point drop in public trust from 71% to 40%.

Makary supports a risk-stratified approach for vaccine approval, urging clinical trials before recommending repeat boosters, especially for children, and challenges the FDA's past rubber-stamping of vaccines without thorough trials.

Additionally, the FDA is increasing transparency by publicly releasing detailed drug rejection letters in real time, helping investors and developers understand precise regulatory decisions.

This agenda aims to create a more trustworthy, predictable, and patient-centered public health system.

ADVICE

Consult Your Doctor Transparently

  • The government is not your doctor; consult your own doctor for vaccine decisions.
  • Transparency and honest communication are essential to restoring public trust in health policies.
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