FDA Plans Reduced Food and Drug Inspections Amid Staff Layoffs, Officials Confirm
Senior Food and Drug Administration Leaders are considering reducing the frequency of routine food and drug inspections carried out by the agency, according to several officials. This decision comes as a result of significant layoffs among support staff earlier this week. Approximately 170 employees were let go from the FDA's Office of Inspections and Investigations, as stated by two federal health officials who declined to be identified due to lack of authorization for public comments. The Department of Health and Human Services has stated layoffs ordered by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , with some 10,000 workers let go From within the department, direct cuts to FDA inspection personnel wouldn’t occur. However, during gatherings involving various federal health authorities, the agency’s surviving leadership has been wrestling with strategies to address significant holdups and disturbances triggered by the departure of administrative and manageria...