FDA Moves to Rehire Medical Device Staffers Fired Only Days Earlier

Barely a Week After Mass Firings, FDA Rescinds Terminations for Some Staffers

Barely a week after mass firings at the Food and Drug Administration, some probationary staffers received unexpected news over the weekend: The government wants them back.

Beginning Friday night, FDA employees overseeing medical devices and other key areas received calls and emails notifying them that their recent terminations had been “rescinded effective immediately,” according to messages viewed by The Associated Press.

Industry Lobbying Efforts Pay Off

The reversal is the latest example of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s chaotic approach to cost-cutting, which has resulted in several agencies firing and then scrambling to rehire employees responsible for nuclear weapons, national parks, and other government services.

The FDA reinstatements followed pushback by lobbyists for the medical device industry, which pays the agency hundreds of millions of dollars annually to hire extra scientists to promptly review products. The industry’s leading trade group said Monday “a sizeable number” of device reviewers would apparently be returning to FDA.

Reinstated Staffers Include Entire Teams of Medical Device Reviewers

FDA staffers said entire teams of five or more medical device reviewers had been reinstated. There did not appear to be a similar effort to rehire staffers in other parts of the agency, including its food and tobacco centers.

The agency hasn’t released official numbers on the terminations, but former FDA officials have pegged the number at roughly 700, with more than 220 coming from the medical device center. That would represent roughly 10% of the program’s total staffing.

Unintended Consequences

The FDA terminations went to employees in their probationary period, typically the first two years of federal employment. But that approach resulted in the terminations across key areas where the agency has been working to beef up staffing, including rapidly evolving fields like artificial intelligence and digital health.

The cuts also included agency leaders who were recently hired for senior roles.

Consequences of the Reversal

The disarray caused by the wholesale termination of a wide swath of device center staff was counterproductive and appears to have caused a variety of unintended and negative results, said Steve Silverman, a former FDA device official who now runs a consulting firm.

It’s encouraging to see a shift in the opposite direction that recognizes the critical expertise of these staffers, Silverman added.

Conclusion

The FDA’s decision to rehire medical device staffers is a welcome move, especially given the critical role these employees play in ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical devices. The agency’s commitment to its staff and the public’s health is evident in this reversal.

FAQs

* What was the reason for the initial mass firings at the FDA?
The agency cited the need to reduce costs and streamline operations.
* How many employees were affected by the initial firings?
Roughly 700 employees, with more than 220 coming from the medical device center.
* Why were some employees reinstated?
The FDA reinstated some employees after pushback from industry lobbyists and concerns over the impact on the agency’s ability to review medical devices efficiently.
* What is the impact of the reversal on the FDA’s device review process?
The reinstatement of device reviewers is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the review process, which is critical for ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical devices.