WASHINGTON — In a notable reversal, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to reinstate a number of employees who were recently laid off, including those responsible for organizing travel for safety inspectors. According to sources within the FDA who chose to stay anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, over 20 of the agency’s 60 travel-related staff will soon be back at work.
The agency’s food scientists, involved in testing for bacteria and studying chemicals, have also been informed of their potential return, although they await official confirmation. Additionally, workers who manage the release of FDA documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are still uncertain about their reinstatement, even though around 100 of these positions were recently cut, as per an insider’s account.
The retrenchment has caused the FDA to fall behind on court-ordered documentation deadlines, risking significant financial penalties. This situation is prompting the agency to consider rehiring some of the recently discharged FOIA processing personnel. Such developments form part of a larger pattern observed in the aftermath of a workforce reduction that had trimmed the FDA staff by an estimated 20%, or approximately 3,500 jobs, not including those who have retired or left voluntarily.
The FDA faced criticism earlier this year for letting go of around 700 provisional employees, including critical reviewers of food and medical devices, only to bring many of them back shortly after industries and lawmakers voiced their concerns. Despite such cuts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not disclosed which positions or programs have been affected.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has maintained that the cuts did not involve FDA scientists. However, reports indicate that at least 24 food scientists from labs in San Francisco and Chicago were dismissed in March. Responding to this situation, a spokesperson from HHS attributed any confusion to what they described as the “fractured, outdated HR infrastructure” from the previous administration, suggesting that efforts were underway to modernize these systems.
Reports have emerged about 15 scientists in the Division of Food Processing Science and Technology in Chicago potentially returning to their roles, although no formal confirmation has been issued. Their work focuses on preventing harmful bacteria on produce and stopping microplastics from entering food through packaging.
Susan Mayne, formerly of the FDA and now with Yale University, emphasized the importance of reversing these cuts and returning affected employees promptly. “The commissioner’s legacy is at stake with how he handles these reductions,” she said.
With over 15,000 employees, the FDA’s key jurisdictions include drug and food evaluations as well as inspections of manufacturing plants globally. Commissioner Makary asserts that no inspectors or medical reviewers were impacted by the staffing reductions. However, administrative support teams are crucial for frontline employees, especially those involved in international inspections.
Previously, inspectors were tasked with arranging their own travel, leading the FDA to establish a hotline for assistance and consider hiring an external contractor to handle these logistics. Recently, it was announced that about a third of the travel staff who were laid off will be returning to their positions.