You're Fired! Trump's Sweeping Layoffs Reach Into FDA

The Trump administration’s reduction of the federal workforce hit the FDA this past weekend, with the firing of an unspecified number of new or probationary employees, some involved in food safety efforts.

There was no official statement from the Trump administration nor the FDA, but Associated Press (AP) reported probationary employees were told Saturday evening that their jobs were being eliminated, according to three FDA staffers who spoke to the news agency.

The total number of positions eliminated was not evident, but the firings appeared to focus on employees in the agency’s centers for food, medical devices and tobacco products, according to AP.

While many news reports raised concern, a former associate commissioner of the FDA was less alarmed. "If they do it right, the agency could really improve efficiency with no compromise on food safety," said David Acheson, M.D., who was associate commissioner for food until 2009. "If they do it wrong, they could really screw things up.

"While I was at FDA, I saw the 80-20 rule in action: 20% of the people were doing 80% of the work," continued Acheson, a frequent Food Processing contributor who went on to found his own food safety consultancy, The Acheson Group (achesonfoodsafetyconsulting.com). "Unfortunately, some good people will probably be casualties." 

Other reports noted some 5,200 probationary employees across the Health and Human Services Dept., which is the parent of FDA, were being targeted for layoffs, including many with the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All those agencies have an impact on food safety and nutrition.

In 2024, overall food recalls (including from USDA) decreased 5% from 2023, with most due to undeclared allergens or ingredients, but there was also a significant increase in recalls related to listeria, salmonella and E. coli.

The FDA’s website today said the agency has more than 18,000 employees working in all 50 states.