FDA to Rehire Hundreds of Scientists Amid Controversial Layoffs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to reverse course on recent staff cuts, planning to rehire approximately 300 scientists who were laid off last week. This development comes amid widespread concern over the Trump administration's aggressive downsizing of key health agencies.

Mass Layoffs and Industry Backlash

Since President Donald Trump's inauguration and the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the administration has enacted sweeping job cuts across major health authorities. The FDA has been particularly affected, with over 1,000 employees terminated in recent weeks.

The layoffs have sparked outrage within the pharmaceutical and healthcare communities. An open letter, organized by the non-profit group No Patient Left Behind and signed by 500 advocates, analysts, doctors, and industry professionals, expressed deep concern about the "arbitrary and excessive staffing cuts." The signatories argue that severely downsizing the FDA "will threaten and delay the approval of new medicines, diagnostics and devices, jeopardize the safety of our food supply and animal products, leave us ill-prepared to address emerging health issues, and risk the safety and quality of everyday products."

FDA's Plans for Rehiring

According to a report from Reuters, the FDA is now asking around 300 employees to return to their positions. Sources familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, stated that the federal agency planned to make these requests over the weekend. At least 11 staff members from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health have already been contacted.

Among those to be rehired are scientists involved in reviewing Neuralink, Elon Musk's health-tech company that is testing brain implants. This move suggests that the FDA recognizes the critical nature of ongoing projects and the need for specialized expertise in emerging technologies.

Uncertainty and Leadership Changes

The recent turmoil has led to significant uncertainty within the FDA and other health agencies. Stuart Pape, food and drug chair at Polsinelli Law Firm and former associate chief counsel for foods at the FDA, told BioSpace, "No one at the moment thinks they have job security. There's no question that there's a concerted effort to reduce the number of government employees, including at places like FDA."

The instability has also resulted in the departure of several high-ranking FDA officials. Patrizia Cavazzoni, former director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, retired in January. Namanjé Bumpus, Principal Deputy Commissioner, stepped down from her post in mid-December 2024. Additionally, Celia Witten, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, left the agency at the end of last week.