FDA’s Top Lawyer Hilary Perkins Resigns After 2 Days

Hilary Perkins said her previous work at the Department of Justice created an ‘unnecessary distraction.’

The Food and Drug Administration headquarters in White Oak, Maryland on Aug. 29, 2020.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) chief counsel, Hilary Perkins, has resigned from the role just two days after her appointment, she said on March 13.

“Five days ago, I left my job as Assistant Director of the Consumer Protection Branch at the U.S. Department of Justice to begin serving at the FDA as Chief Counsel. I was honored and humbled by the trust placed in me by President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Makary, and the rest of the Administration,” Perkins wrote in a post on her LinkedIn profile.

“Unfortunately, my work at the Department of Justice defending the FDA throughout multiple administrations—which I performed consistent with my oath to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States—created an unnecessary distraction from advancing the Administration’s priorities. With great respect for the career attorneys and professionals at FDA and with deep appreciation for my family, friends, and colleagues who have stood by me during this challenging time, I have resigned as Chief Counsel,” Perkins said.

The FDA confirmed Perkins’ departure in a post on social media platform X.

“Hilary K. Perkins has resigned from her position as Chief Counsel of FDA, effectively immediately,” the FDA said without providing further details.

A biography for Perkins has been removed from the agency’s official website, while news of her appointment was removed from the statement issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA and other agencies.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Perkins first joined the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) consumer protection division as a trial attorney in 2019, during President Donald Trump’s first administration. She became assistant director in 2020, a position she held until March of this year.

Before her work at the DOJ, Perkins was employed as an associate at a Washington-based law firm and as a law clerk to Judge Rhesa H. Barksdale on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Her resignation came just hours after Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) criticized the appointment in an X post.

“I can’t imagine anyone who would be more at odds with President Trump’s agenda,” Hawley wrote.

Following the news of Perkins’ resignation, the Missouri senator posted on the social media platform that he was “pleased to see that Dr. [Martin] Makary has reconsidered his decision.”

Makary, President Donald Trump’s nominee for FDA Commissioner, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate for the FDA’s top role, and it is unclear what, if any, role he played in Perkins’ appointment.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Makary and the FDA for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

Reuters contributed to this report.