Capitol Hill Update: Congress Gets Reprieve On User Fee Passage, While AdvaMed Weighs Device Tax Options

Commissioner Gottlieb says the agency won't issue layoff notices "unless and until Sept. 30 passes without reauthorization" of US FDA user fee programs. Meanwhile, could the user fee bill be a vehicle for device tax repeal?

Capitol House

In a memo sent to all employees July 24, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency will not send reduction in force (RIF) notices on Aug. 1 to employees who could lose their jobs if user fees are not reauthorized by Oct. 1, when the fiscal year ends.

Gottlieb wrote in the memo that "because we can reasonably expect that there will be timely reauthorization of the user fee programs by Congress by Sept. 30, we...

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