The Trump administration's recent initiative to reduce the federal workforce has reached the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), leading to significant changes within the agency. Over the weekend, newly hired employees responsible for reviewing the safety of food ingredients, medical devices, and other products were laid off. The firings primarily affected personnel within the FDA's centers for food, medical devices, and tobacco products. This development comes at a time when the FDA's inspection team has been particularly strained due to departures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FDA employs nearly 20,000 individuals who oversee thousands of food, drug, tobacco, and medical device facilities worldwide. However, its workforce is skewed towards older workers who have served the agency for one or two decades. In 2022, the Government Accountability Office highlighted that the FDA has historically struggled with recruiting and retaining staff due to more competitive pay in the private sector. This challenge is compounded by nearly half of the FDA's $6.9 billion budget being sourced from fees paid by regulated companies.
Probationary employees across various divisions of the FDA received notices on Saturday evening that their positions were being eliminated. The agency plans to lay off nearly 1,300 probationary employees, but as of early Sunday afternoon, approximately 700 had received termination notices. These dismissals have raised concerns about the potential impact on the agency's ability to ensure product safety and maintain effective oversight.
The FDA faces a backlog of about 2,000 uninspected drug facilities that have not been visited since before the pandemic. Cutting recent hires could exacerbate this issue by eliminating staff members who typically possess more up-to-date technical skills, essential for addressing modern challenges in food and drug safety.
Mitch Zeller, former director for tobacco at the FDA, criticized the firings as a method to "demoralize and undermine the spirit of the federal workforce." He emphasized that the combined effect of these actions could destroy the agency's ability to recruit and retain talent.
"The combined effect of what they're trying to do is going to destroy the ability to recruit and retain talent," – Mitch Zeller
Peter Pitts, in discussing the importance of infusing new talent into the agency, noted the necessity of bringing in fresh perspectives and skills.
"You want to bring in new blood," – Peter Pitts
The FDA has historically relied on its seasoned inspectors to ensure safety standards are met across various sectors. Many current inspectors are recent hires who filled gaps left by previous departures. With reductions in staffing, concerns grow regarding how effectively the FDA can continue its critical role in protecting public health.