Over the weekend, the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce hit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as newly hired employees responsible for reviewing the safety of various products were let go. Reports indicate that probationary employees at the FDA received termination notices on Saturday evening. The exact number of positions eliminated was not immediately clear, but the layoffs seemed to target workers in key areas such as food, medical devices, and tobacco products oversight, which includes electronic cigarettes. It remains uncertain if employees reviewing drugs were exempt from the layoffs.
The Department of Health and Human Services also announced plans to lay off 5,200 probationary employees across its agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anonymously shared information suggests that about 700 individuals at the CDC had received notices of job cuts by early Sunday afternoon.
The FDA, based in Maryland near Washington, employs nearly 20,000 individuals and has been a focal point of criticism by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has accused the FDA of hindering public health by not approving certain treatments and has advocated for the removal of various chemicals and colorings from American foods. The recent cuts at the FDA reportedly affect staff involved in assessing the safety of new food elements.
These layoffs could potentially have unintended consequences, as getting rid of recently hired employees might result in losing individuals with fresh expertise and perspectives. Experts point out the importance of bringing in new talent to foster innovation and modernize approaches within the agency.
Former FDA officials have expressed concerns that these layoffs could have a detrimental impact on the morale and effectiveness of the federal workforce, potentially hindering the agency’s ability to fulfill its crucial functions.
“Recruit and retain talent,” Zeller said. The FDA’s inspection force has been under significant strain in recent years due to a surge in departures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the agency’s current inspectors are recent hires, and it is unclear whether those employees were exempted. FDA inspectors have the crucial responsibility of overseeing numerous food, drug, tobacco, and medical device facilities worldwide. However, it was reported last year that the agency faced a backlog of approximately 2,000 uninspected drug facilities that had not been visited since before the pandemic. The agency’s inspection force has also faced criticism for not acting swiftly enough to address recent issues involving infant formula, baby food, and eyedrops.
___ AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report. ___
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