Massive Layoffs Hit FDA, other Federal Health Agencies

On April 1, 2025, thousands who worked at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received Reduction In Force (RIF) letters terminating their employment. These layoffs follow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) March 27, 2025 announcement that 10,000 employees would be laid off from HHS and its divisional agencies as part of a reorganization plan pursuant to the Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”
  
Those impacted reportedly consist of both rank and file employees and higher level Agency officials, including, for example, the now-former head of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, Dr. Brian King, who was placed on administrative leave. The layoffs also reportedly include the entirety of FDA’s communications and media affairs staff. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has requested HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to testify about the reorganization before a Senate Health Committee panel on April 10. 

Which critical functions carried out by FDA could be most impacted by the layoffs is unclear. As previously reported, the HHS announcement indicated that the layoffs would not affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers or inspectors. How these roles are being defined and the potential trickle-down impact of the cuts across the Agency remains to be seen. 

Sources report that two-thirds of the FDA’s records request staff were terminated. These staff handle responding to requests for Agency information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They are also responsible for ensuring that information legally exempt from public disclosure under FOIA is not released. Inadequate or inexperienced staffing for FDA’s FOIA responsibilities could result in delayed or improper responses to requests for records under FOIA. 
 
It is not certain what personnel cuts, if any, have been made in FDA’s Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation (OFCSDSI) or other parts of FDA’s Unified Human Foods Program (HFP). OFCSDSI houses the office responsible for review of Food Contact Notifications (FCN) and HFP’s planned process for post-market review of chemicals in food.  

All personnel in the Office of Management and Office of Regulations within FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) are reported to have been terminated. The reductions are expected to have a significant impact on FDA’s ability to administer laws regulating tobacco products.  

In total, the terminations are estimated to account for a nearly 20% reduction in FDA’s full-time workforce. Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor and report on the ripple effects within the Agency and upon those it regulates.