The former official, Vinay Prasad, had been on the job three months and had recently come under attack by conservative provocateur Laura Loomer.

Vinay Prasad had come under fire from some Republicans and conservative activists, including far-right activist Laura Loomer, over his approach to drug approvals and his previous support for Democratic politicians.

A spokesperson for the Health Department has said that Vinay Prasad did not want to be a "distraction to the great work of the FDA in the Trump administration."