Trump Administration Layoffs Hit FDA's Device Center, Impacting Key Health Agencies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) have been caught in a wave of sweeping layoffs initiated by the Trump administration over the weekend. These cuts, which have affected multiple health-focused agencies, are part of a broader effort to reduce the number of so-called probationary employees across the U.S. government.

Widespread Impact on Health Agencies

While the exact number of FDA staff affected remains unclear, estimates suggest thousands of dismissals spanning various agencies, including:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Other branches of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The layoffs, dubbed by workers as the "Valentine's Day massacre," have primarily targeted probationary employees. These include new hires in their first one to two years of civil service and some longer-term staff who recently moved into new positions. Probationary employees typically have fewer legal protections against termination without cause compared to other federal workers.

FDA and CDRH Facing Significant Cuts

At the FDA, the layoffs have impacted staff involved in user-fee-funded activities, such as reviewing medical products for clearance and approval. The CDRH, which employs over 2,000 people, has seen reductions in teams responsible for regulating artificial intelligence and digital health programs. This includes the dismissal of AI researchers and Ph.D.-level employees who assist in evaluating imaging devices, despite rapid advancements in these fields.

High-Profile Departures and Reactions

The recent wave of layoffs has coincided with several high-profile departures from key health agencies:

• Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., the FDA's drug center chief
• Troy Tazbaz, director of the AI-focused Digital Health Center of Excellence
• Renee Wegrzyn, Ph.D., head of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
• Lawrence Tabak and Michael Lauer, senior officials at the NIH

Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., expressed his concern in a recent social media post, stating, "I am grieving for the many talented & dedicated FDA employees who have been mistreated & those left to do the work of protecting public health. Also for those who will be harmed by this among patients and the public."

The layoffs have raised questions about the potential impact on public health and the ability of these agencies to fulfill their critical roles in protecting and advancing healthcare in the United States. As the situation continues to develop, the long-term consequences of these staffing cuts on regulatory processes, research initiatives, and public health programs remain to be seen.