US FDA
Calley Means defended reductions in force at the Health and Human Services Department that shocked and outraged federal workers and stakeholders.
Some employees were not impressed with FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's first speech to the agency staff, saying he did not seem to understand the agency's mission.
The loss of policy analyst, legal, project manager and social scientist positions has experts wondering if the Trump Administration is eyeing a broader effort to limit DTC advertising. The OPDP layoffs are expected to result in delayed reviews of promotional pieces.
One CDRH employee said the cuts already are having a major effect on morale.
Mass FDA layoffs on 1 April were designed to spare product reviewers, but still touched many who are critical to the application review process or drug development, which could mean fewer treatments are brought to the US market first.
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary was sworn in Friday and knew of the plan that ultimately lead to CBER director Peter Marks' resignation on 28 March.
In his resignation letter, the CBER director said he was willing to work with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address concerns about vaccine safety, but "it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary."
The April departures of Paul Kluetz and Marc Theoret follow resignations by other senior agency scientific staff and come on top of HHS’ plans to lay off 3,500 FDA employees.
About 3,500 full-time FDA employees are expected to be laid off as part of a restructuring of the Health and Human Services Department and experts questioned whether the cuts could be implemented without harming FDA’s core mission.
The General Services Administration’s updated list of “assets identified for accelerated disposition” does not include any buildings at the agency’s headquarters in White Oak, MD after its original list of “non-core” government properties for disposal had more than half the buildings on campus.
FDA staffing cuts are making negotiation preparations more difficult, but also could mean the result is a smaller user fee renewal package.
Stakeholders are pleading for newly confirmed FDA Commissioner Martin Makary to stand up for the agency's high scientific standards and staff as he begins his term.
Filing in the Whole Women’s Health mifepristone case defends the FDA’s 2023 decision on the abortion pill safety program, but experts warn it does not necessarily signal the Trump Administration position in other mifepristone cases attempting to restrict medication abortion access.
US FDA Commissioner nominee Martin Makary is being embraced by industry, and Senate Democrats, as a more traditional pick than other Trump Administration nominees, but the Make America Healthy Again agenda still is clearly coming to the agency.
Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss industry worries about delays in the FDA’s work since the Trump Administration took office, as well as the chaotic return of staff to a White Oak headquarters that cannot handle them.
Republican congressional staffers could bring a wealth of experience and strong contacts with key legislators to the FDA ahead of the next user fee reauthorization process. But will Health and Human Services Department leadership interfere?
Multiple sources, including former Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, told the Pink Sheet that industry is quietly complaining about FDA work delays and they expect the problem will worsen.
Parking and security at the FDA’s White Oak headquarters were strained from the influx of employees who had to report to work in person on 17 March.
Industry likely wants Grace Graham to take the FDA’s top policy and legislative role, but she may be passed over for someone more tied to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s interests.
Many US FDA staff must return to in-office work beginning 17 March per Trump Administration mandate, but the agency's White Oak headquarters will struggle to accommodate the influx of workers.