Sweeping FDA Cuts Hit CDRH Staffer’s Inboxes
On February 15, numerous probationary staff at FDA began receiving emails notifying them they had been fired. "Unfortunately, the Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the Agency's current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment at the Agency," said the letters. The post Sweeping FDA Cuts Hit CDRH Staffer’s Inboxes appeared first on MedTech Intelligence.
The Guardian reported that the Trump administration’s effort to slash the size of the federal workforce reached the Food and Drug Administration this weekend, as recently hired i.e. probationary employees, (employed at FDA for under three years) who review the safety of medical devices, food ingredients and other products were fired.
On February 15, Probationary employees across the FDA received emails on Saturday evening that their jobs were being eliminated. CBS News obtained a letter that outlined the reasons that staff at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were given for their firing…
“Unfortunately, the Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the Agency’s current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment at the Agency,” said the letters.
Cuts at the FDA hit people who do research and approvals at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), according to fired FDA employees who were fearful of the consequences of speaking out. NPR reported among staff who were caught up in the first wave of layoffs: Ph.D.-trained scientists tasked with helping local and state officials respond to outbreaks and employees who ensure that medical devices for patients with cancer and diabetes are safe.
Comments about the firings have lit up LinkedIn. Quentin Moore, Former FDA – Regulatory Medical Imaging SaMD AI/ML Expert was considered a recently hired employee posted about his firing.”I didn’t expect to be here, but like many of my colleagues, I am. I began my experience at FDA 2.5 years ago. There are numerous employment pathways at the Agency and the one I started in was equivalent to a three year fellowship with an expectation to convert to a civil servant before that ends (or renews). As anticipated, I earned several accolades during my time at FDA, including a Center-level (CDRH) Customer Experience award. I was able to transition out of that status last February and earned a competitive promotion that came with a one year probation. I have been holding my breath for a few weeks but with only one week to go in my probation period, I was let go for reasons fully outside of my control.”
Kelly Benning, President LiveMetric, Board Member and Leader in Continuous Blood Pressure Wearables posted “With over 200 staff potentially affected—including the head of the Office of Product Evaluation and Quality!!—companies relying on timely FDA reviews should expect delays and disruptions. This uncertainty adds another layer of complexity for (us) the device makers already navigating a tough market. Medical device leaders need to prepare for potential slowdowns and advocate for stability in regulatory oversight.”
The post Sweeping FDA Cuts Hit CDRH Staffer’s Inboxes appeared first on MedTech Intelligence.
