The Trump administration has cut jobs at the Food and Drug Administration, laying off probationary employees responsible for reviewing food safety, medical devices and tobacco products.
Matthew Perrone reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The FDA layoffs, which took effect Saturday, affected employees in food safety, medical device and tobacco product oversight.
- The cuts are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce, with the Department of Health and Human Services reportedly planning to fire 5,200 probationary employees across its agencies.
- Experts warn the layoffs could weaken the FDA’s ability to regulate food additives, inspect drug facilities and recruit new talent, further straining an already short-staffed agency.
Key quote:
“The combined effect of what they’re trying to do is going to destroy the ability to recruit and retain talent.”
— Mitch Zeller, former FDA director for tobacco
Why this matters:
The FDA plays a critical role in protecting public health by ensuring the safety of food, medical devices and tobacco products. Cutting staff in these areas could slow safety reviews and inspections, potentially increasing the risk of unsafe products reaching consumers at a time when the agency has already faced scrutiny for failing to catch recent contamination issues in infant formula and eyedrops. With many of the affected employees being recent hires, the layoffs may further weaken an agency that has struggled to attract and retain skilled workers.
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