FDA Staff Cuts Disrupt Drug Development, Safety Oversight

Recent mass layoffs at the FDA, part of broader staff reductions across the Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration, have led to significant disruptions in the agency’s ability to uphold food and drug safety. The cuts have eliminated not only inspectors but also crucial support staff, resulting in delays to food safety inspections, international oversight, and public communications. Key quality control programs such as the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) Proficiency Testing Program have been suspended, undermining the consistency and reliability of nationwide food testing and potentially increasing risks to public health. In the rare disease space, the expiration of the priority review voucher program for pediatric rare diseases, combined with reduced FDA capacity, is raising concerns about slowed investment and development of new treatments for serious conditions. Stakeholders and experts warn that these changes may delay drug approvals and disrupt treatment pipelines, with some questioning the effectiveness of cost-saving measures that outsource previously internal tasks to contractors. The overall impact is a growing sense of uncertainty among patients, industry, and agency staff about the FDA’s ability to protect public health and support innovation.