Saturday, November 14, 2026 Vol. I · No. 25 · Late Edition Print size
Election 2026 495 of 504 races called See the results → The GOP Files Receipts on the Republican-run Washington · Sourced · Dated · On the record On Instagram 5.7M plays and counting @thegopfiles →
The Wire
Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Kyle Diamantas
Photo: Food and Drug Administration, Public domain

The Administration · Health agencies

Kyle Diamantas

Acting FDA Commissioner Acting

A food-law attorney with no medical or scientific degree, he has run the FDA on an acting basis since May 2026 while the president's nominee, Heidi Overton, waits on a Senate that changes hands in January.

Biography

Kyle Diamantas was born in Rockledge, Florida, on November 25, 1987, and holds a political science degree from the University of Central Florida and a law degree from the University of Florida. 1 2 He practiced at the law firms Baker Donelson and Jones Day, where he became a partner and represented Abbott Laboratories in litigation over infant formula. 1 The Associated Press describes him as an attorney with personal ties to Donald Trump Jr. 4

He joined the Food and Drug Administration in February 2025 as deputy commissioner for food, leading the Human Foods Program that oversees nutrition and food safety. 1 2 The agency said he agreed to step aside from matters involving Abbott and British American Tobacco. 1 In February 2026 he also became a senior counselor at the health department, serving as a link between the agency, the department and the White House. 2

When Marty Makary resigned on May 12, 2026, President Trump announced that Diamantas would serve as acting commissioner. 3 5 The agency's website lists him under that title. 2 According to Wikipedia's summary of news reports, Trump offered him the permanent job and he declined. 1 In August 2026 Trump chose White House domestic policy aide Heidi Overton instead. 8

Overton had a Senate hearing on September 24, 2026, but no committee vote before the midterm elections. 7 9 A regulatory trade publication reported on November 6 that Democrats' election wins leave Republicans a short window to confirm her before January, and a November 13 notice said the health committee had scheduled a vote. 6 Until the Senate acts, Diamantas remains in charge of an agency whose staff was cut by nearly 20 percent in 2025. 9

In the job

The acts and events that have defined the post so far, oldest first.

  1. Named acting commissioner by President Trump on the day Marty Makary resigned. The health secretary said a search for a permanent commissioner had begun. 3 5

  2. Named Donald Prater to succeed him as acting deputy commissioner for food. 1

  3. Trump announced he would nominate Heidi Overton, a White House domestic policy official, as permanent commissioner; Senate health chairman Bill Cassidy said he was not convinced she should lead the agency. 8

  4. The Senate health committee held Overton's confirmation hearing; the agency Diamantas leads had lost nearly 20 percent of its staff in the 2025 layoffs. 9

  5. The FDA invited outside experts and consumer representatives to volunteer for its advisory committees, which a trade publication said signaled a change after their role shrank under Makary. 7

  6. The Senate health committee had still not voted on Overton; Democrats' midterm wins left Republicans until January to confirm her. 6

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. The New York Times reported on his earlier legal work defending a formula maker against claims that its product harmed infants, raising conflict-of-interest questions about his authority over infant formula, according to Wikipedia's summary. 1

    Their side: The agency said he had agreed to recuse himself from matters involving Abbott and British American Tobacco. 1

  2. Critics noted that he is a lawyer with no medical or scientific degree and no record in drug regulation; the AP reported his personal ties to Donald Trump Jr. 4 5

    Their side: The health secretary said he had full confidence in Diamantas. 5

  3. Politico reported that he once represented Planned Parenthood as a private lawyer and later asked to be taken off those cases; he met anti-abortion leaders in May 2026 to explain that work, according to Wikipedia's summary. 1

    Their side: No public response found beyond the reported meeting. 1

Career

  1. Attorney at the law firm Baker Donelson
  2. Counsel, then partner, at Jones Day; represented Abbott Laboratories in infant formula litigation
  3. FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food, head of the Human Foods Program
  4. Senior Counselor at the Department of Health and Human Services
  5. Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Kyle Diamantas. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Kyle Diamantas, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. FDA.gov, Kyle Diamantas, J.D., May 15, 2026
  3. CBS News, Marty Makary resigns as FDA commissioner after internal tensions, May 12, 2026
  4. PBS NewsHour (AP), Marty Makary resigns as Trump's FDA chief, May 12, 2026
  5. The Daily Intake (Keller and Heckman), Kyle Diamantas to serve as Acting FDA Commissioner as Dr. Marty Makary Resigns, May 13, 2026
  6. RAPS Regulatory Focus, This Week at FDA: Midterms may complicate Overton confirmation, influence user fee reauthorization, and more, Nov. 6, 2026
  7. RAPS Regulatory Focus, This Week at FDA: No Overton vote until after midterms, FDA signals advisory committee support, and more, Oct. 2, 2026
  8. Government Executive (States Newsroom), Trump's FDA pick faces questions about leading the agency, Aug. 21, 2026
  9. STAT, Heidi Overton, Trump's pick for FDA head, faced questions at Senate hearing, Sept. 24, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.