FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas has personally reached out to pro-life leaders to offer reassurance about his commitment to the Trump administration’s pro-life agenda — after concerns arose about his background as a lawyer who once worked on a case involving a Planned Parenthood affiliate.
“Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas is personally committed to delivering on President Trump’s pro-life and pro-family agenda at the FDA,” said HHS deputy assistant secretary for media relations Andrew Nixon. “Both he and other administration officials will continue regularly interacting with stakeholders in this community to inform FDA decision-making.”
Diamantas became acting commissioner following the May 12 resignation of Marty Makary, who faced sustained criticism from pro-life groups for failing to impose stricter regulations on mifepristone. Court records show Diamantas served as legal counsel for a Planned Parenthood affiliate while at the Baker Donelson law firm. Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz dismissed the concern, saying Diamantas was a junior associate assigned to the case who removed himself because of his pro-life beliefs.
Within days of his appointment, Diamantas called March for Life President Jennie Bradley Lichter and scheduled a call with Live Action President Lila Rose. Lichter told EWTN News she spoke with him about “the lack of safety, the lack of guardrails, and its easy availability” of mifepristone. “I think we’re going to see real movement,” she said, adding that she felt “really comfortable that he is bringing in strong pro-life commitments.”
Mark Harrington, president of Created Equal, was more cautious. “Talk is cheap,” he said. “But personnel is policy, and the fact that Diamantas represented Planned Parenthood makes me skeptical that he will advocate for the full mifepristone safety study. We will trust but verify. Action needs to be taken now on the abortion drug.”