The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing a crisis as it struggles to retain experienced staff, with many employees feeling demoralized by increasing political involvement in regulatory decisions and bureaucratic cuts.
Since the April 1 layoffs that saw 3,500 employees leave, the agency has continued to experience high turnover rates. A government-wide hiring freeze has exacerbated the problem, leading to a lack of new recruits and further eroding the agency’s workforce.
FDA employees are frustrated with the commissioner’s office, feeling that their expertise is not being valued in decision-making processes. This lack of trust among staff members has led to low morale, causing many to consider leaving their jobs.
With the commissioner’s tenure marked by increased political influence over regulatory decisions, FDA employees are growing increasingly wary of changes made without consulting career staff. As a result, more workers than ever before are choosing to leave the agency in search of better working conditions and respect for their expertise.
The situation is set to worsen as the hiring freeze remains in place, leaving the FDA with an already depleted workforce. Unless drastic measures are taken to address these issues, the agency may struggle to maintain its critical work, putting public health at risk.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/07/fda-job-cuts-morale-low-staff-anxious-impact-of-new-leadership-makary-prasad-rfk-jr