The Trump administration’s workforce reduction effort has reached the Food and Drug Administration. According to FDA staffers, probationary employees reviewing food ingredients, medical devices, and other products were fired over the weekend. The FDA relies on industry-paid fees for nearly half its budget and has long struggled with workforce retention due to higher private-sector salaries. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has accused it of blocking unproven treatments and has pushed to eliminate food chemicals. The agency's recent staff cuts include those reviewing food additive safety.
