The White House has confirmed to Reuters that over 1,000 employees of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been dismissed as part of a broader workforce reduction. In an effort to regain some of its lost expertise, the FDA is reaching out to a select number of these former staffers, urging them to return. This rehiring initiative aims to bring back less than one-third of those who were laid off, with a focus on maintaining the agency's mission of public health and safety.
The FDA’s decision to rehire comes after the termination of thousands of its employees, including about 20 individuals from the office of neurological and physical medicine devices. Notably, several of these employees were involved in reviewing Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-implant company. According to sources, at least 11 employees from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health were contacted on Monday with requests to return. The agency plans to rehire approximately 300 people in total.
Despite the significant firings, many of the dismissed employees had previously received high performance rankings and had no reported performance issues. Some received termination letters that vaguely stated their contributions were "not adequate to justify further employment at the agency." These terminations affected positions funded by fees from medical device companies and financial institutions rather than taxpayer money.
In recent weeks, the FDA had initially denied Neuralink's petition to commence clinical trials due to safety concerns but later granted permission for ongoing trials. This complex situation highlights the critical need for experienced staff to manage such high-stakes reviews effectively.
Scott Whitaker, CEO of AdvaMed, a medical device industry group, emphasized the importance of this rehiring effort:
"an efficient, effective FDA review process that helps advance the medical technologies American patients depend on. Bringing these specific experts back would help fulfill that mission" – Scott Whitaker, CEO of AdvaMed.
The rehiring attempt aligns with a broader trend seen during the Trump administration, which also sought to reintegrate federal employees into sectors crucial for national interests, such as nuclear weapons and public health emergencies like the bird flu outbreak.
Both the White House and the federal health department have declined to comment further on the situation. The FDA also did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding their staffing strategy.