FDA Plans to Rehire Food Safety, Travel Staff Amid Operational Challenges

The Food and Drug Administration is preparing to rehire some of the employees dismissed during recent mass layoffs, including travel coordinators for inspectors, food safety scientists, and staff managing Freedom of Information Act requests. These moves come after the FDA experienced operational lapses, such as missing court-ordered deadlines for document releases and concerns about food safety oversight, following the elimination of about 20% of its workforce. While agency leaders initially claimed no scientists were terminated, reports indicate that at least two dozen food scientists were among those let go. The abrupt and sometimes reversed personnel decisions have been criticized as haphazard, fueling uncertainty among staff and stakeholders. The layoffs and subsequent rehires have sparked debate about the effectiveness and transparency of the agency’s streamlining efforts, with some former officials warning about the risks to public health and safety. The Department of Health and Human Services has yet to clarify which specific positions will be restored or provide a detailed plan for the agency's restructuring.