Some scientists and inspections staff at the FDA have been informed by their supervisors that their layoffs will be reversed, CBS News reported April 28.
The White House had previously laid off more than 1,000 FDA employees and planned to rehire about 300, Reuters reported in February. HHS began issuing dismissal notices April 1 as part of a broader restructuring that includes laying off 10,000 full-time employees, including 3,500 at the FDA.
Here are four things to know:
1. Multiple FDA staff members were told in meetings during the week of April 21 that their layoffs would be reversed, including scientists at drug safety labs in Detroit and Puerto Rico, and food safety labs in Chicago and San Francisco, CBS News reported.
2. An HHS spokesperson told CBS News that the layoffs were caused by inaccurate data from HHS’ “siloed HR divisions.”
3. Of the nearly 200 support staff for FDA inspectors who were laid off, about 24 have been told their layoffs will be reversed. These employees oversee travel booking for foreign inspections. One agency official said less than 60% of planned foreign inspections were completed during a recent week.
4. The layoffs have also caused delays in drug safety work, according to current and laid-off employees. Biotech companies have reported setbacks in clinical trials, including one company that planned to shift its focus to trial activity in Europe after not receiving FDA feedback on a clinical trial amendment for about a month.
