U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, (D-FL), posted a video to social media urging President Donald Trump not to “recklessly fire experts who work to keep our country’s infant formula supplies safe.” “I can tell you it's stressful enough when you realize that you're no longer able to or unable to breastfeed your child, and so you have enough to worry about,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz said about Trump firing FDA safety experts.
“As a new parent, you want to make sure that you can count on the formula that you are feeding your new baby.”
On May 22, 2025, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, (D-GA), pressed Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Makary during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Agriculture, Rural Development, and the FDA. The hearing came after the Trump administration fired several FDA scientists responsible for infant formula safety.
Ossoff asked Makary, “Did you see a recent Consumer Reports study which found that of 41 tested infant formulas, more than 30 were found to have potentially dangerous levels of lead?”
“Yeah, heavy metals in infant formula is something that’s getting a lot of attention — as it should,” Makary responded.
“That is part of Operation Stork Speed to take a hard look at that, and it is one of the priorities of our infant formula roundtable at the FDA on June 4.”
Ossoff continued to press Makary over the firing of agency employees, many of whom were recent hires with up-to-date training and education. The terminated staff reportedly included experts in nutrition, infant formula, food safety response, and the review of potentially unsafe ingredients in the food supply.
During the June 4 FDA roundtable, Makary acknowledged the increasing levels of dangerous lead discovered in commercially available baby formula.
“There's been almost no change to the monograph for baby formula since 1998, with the exception of adding selenium,” Makary said.
“Now, in my view, the field of medical science does not stay stagnant for 26 years in any space.”
Makary did not address the firings or the recent resignation of James Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for the Human Foods Program.
