Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Former FDA chiefs say staffing cuts will take years to reverse
At a STAT Summit in Boston, three former FDA chiefs criticized the agency’s staffing losses under the Trump administration.
The Elon Musk-led DOGE initiative cut 3,500 workers, and a further exodus followed under former commissioner Marty Makary, who resigned in May.
The former officials said the cuts left the FDA short of experienced staff and cost it institutional knowledge that will take years to rebuild.
They said the agency may be improving under acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas and policy lead Grace Graham, but rebuilding will require more than rehiring: staff must also feel protected from political pressure and further firings.
White House official Heidi Overton has been nominated to replace Makary but still needs Senate confirmation.
The former chiefs also warned that vaccine disputes have damaged public confidence, and Rob Califf said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is continuing to erode trust.
Restoring the FDA’s workforce and public trust will take time, even if its leadership is making more rational decisions.
Three former Food and Drug Administration chiefs said staffing losses have weakened the agency and will take years to reverse.
They criticized mass layoffs linked to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.
The cuts of 3,500 workers preceded a larger staff exodus under former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
The former officials said rebuilding requires rehiring staff and assuring employees they will be protected from political interference and further firings.
They also expressed some optimism about changes in agency leadership.
- Who
- Former FDA commissioners Rob Califf, Scott Gottlieb and Ned Sharpless.
- What
- They criticized staffing cuts and warned that restoring the agency’s workforce and institutional knowledge will take years.
- When
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Where
- The STAT Summit in Boston.
- Why
- The cuts and subsequent staff departures cost the FDA experienced reviewers and institutional memory.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
DOGE cuts of 3,500 workers preceded a larger staff exodus under his leadership.
Marty Makary resigned as FDA commissioner.
Former FDA chiefs criticized the staffing losses at the STAT Summit in Boston.
- DOGE cuts
- 3,500 workers
- Former FDA commissioner
- Marty Makary
- Makary resignation
- May
- STAT Summit location
- Boston
What people are saying
DOGE will go down as one of the biggest disasters in American history
arbitrary
You lost a lot of institutional memory
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