Mass Layoffs Begin At the FDA

Read our previous alert here.

The layoffs included officials at agencies under the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In total, the layoffs in HHS will amount to 20,000 workers – 10,000 of which voluntarily accepted buy-outs and 10,000 who are being laid off starting April 1.

According to reports, the FDA is apparently going to lose 18% of its full-time workforce – or 3500 workers. Already announced departures at the FDA include Peter Stein, the director of the Office of New Drugs in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and Brian King, the head of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. This follows the March 28 ouster of Peter Marks, the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, who was regarded as FDA’s top vaccine official.

Initial statements from HHS said that the 3500 workers would not include “those with roles in drug, medical device or food reviews or inspections.” However, press reports are saying that offices focused on food, drug and medical device policy were hit with deep staff reductions. 

More layoffs are expected in the coming days and weeks.