Reports: New Round of Layoffs at FDA and CDC
The FDA has initiated layoffs across multiple divisions at the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to news reports. According to internal memos viewed by Bloomberg, the notices sent over the weekend indicated that layoffs would expand beyond prior reports of job cuts at the CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH). The layoffs come as part of President Trump’s plan to shrink the size of the federal government.
According to Bloomberg, those laid off Saturday included employees that evaluate the safety of medical devices and conduct oversight of Affordable Care Act exchanges.
While the exact number of employees being laid off is not yet clear, the the Associated Press reported Friday that some officials expected the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees NIH, FDA and the CDC, to fire 5,200 probationary employees across its agencies. The AP article cits an audio recording of a National Institutes of Health department meeting.
The cuts appear to target probationary employees—those who have been with the agency for less than 2 years and have yet to qualify for civil service protections.
The FDA termination notices, reportedly sent over the weekend, informed employees they were "not fit for continued employment" because their "ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the Agency's current needs," adding that their "performance has not been adequate to justify further employment" there. The terminations take effect March 14, Bloomberg said.