STAT+: Live updates: Senators question FDA nominee Marty Makary on vaccines, agency layoffs

WASHINGTON — Marty Makary, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, is testifying before the Senate HELP Committee on Thursday. The doctor, author, and critic of the medical establishment will face questions about the agency’s next chapter, particularly under the shadow of administration-wide cost-cutting measures and a supercharged focus on chronic diseases. The hearing, which begins at 10 a.m. ET, promises questions about Makary’s views on chronic illnesses, food policy reform, vaccine safety — and how he’ll work on those issues with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

Follow STAT’s live updates below for key moments and analysis.

11:05 A.M.

Makary vows to take action on illegal vapes from China

SARAH TODD

As illegal e-cigarettes in flavors like watermelon and sour berry continue to flood the U.S. market, Makary pledged to take action on FDA enforcement.

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