FDA Cuts 700 Jobs, Impacting Health and Technology Sectors

The FDA has faced significant layoffs, reportedly losing around 700 employees, including key specialists in medical and AI technology, during a recent mass firing event. Many of those laid off were funded through user fees from the drug and medical device industries, raising concerns about the impact on product safety and approval processes. Critics, including health industry leaders and recent appointees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have expressed alarm over the rapid and seemingly indiscriminate nature of these cuts, which threaten to compromise regulatory stability and public safety. The layoffs particularly affected teams responsible for evaluating AI-driven medical devices and other critical health technologies, leading to fears about delayed approvals and increased risks in food safety. Industry executives have united in calling for a halt to the cuts, warning that the drastic reduction in personnel could have dire consequences for the FDA's capabilities. The overall atmosphere within the agency has been described as one of low morale and uncertainty, as remaining staff grapple with the implications of these changes on their work.