Massive FDA layoffs raise public health concerns

The Trump administration has carried out massive layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including at the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), a sweeping move that has sent ripples through federal health agencies. The move is part of a broader strategy to streamline government operations by targeting probationary employees deemed nonessential.

The staff cuts come as the FDA is locked in an “epic fight” with the tobacco industry over rules governing new tobacco and nicotine products. The agency’s center has faced criticism from the FDA over its regulations, including its delay in reviewing tobacco and nicotine products, and has faced lawsuits from companies that challenged its decisions.[1].

Large-scale layoffs in federal administrations

The CTP, which oversees regulation of tobacco products, vaping products and other nicotine delivery devices, laid off about 100 probationary employees on Feb. 15. Officially, the firings were based on poor performance, but several affected employees had received positive evaluations in recent months. The move raised suspicions that the layoffs were motivated less by individual performance than by a desire to weaken the regulator. The Center for Tobacco Products is funded by “user fees” paid quarterly by tobacco manufacturers and importers based on their market share, not by taxpayers. Critics argue that laying off these employees does not reduce government spending but rather hampers the agency’s ability to regulate the tobacco industry.

In addition to the CTP, the layoffs affected several other FDA departments, including food safety and medical devices. In total, about 700 employees were laid off, including about 220 from the medical device center. The restructuring has drawn sharp criticism from industry executives, who warn of potential delays in the approval of new products and worry about the safety of medical innovations.

The decision to lay off staff comes at a time when the FDA is already facing scrutiny for its handling of foodborne illness outbreaks and its slow response to medical device failures. Jim Jones, head of the FDA’s food division, resigned in protest after firing 89 food safety employees, calling the move “blindsided” and a threat to public health.. “The FDA plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of our food supply, ensuring that medicines are properly controlled, and preventing harmful tobacco products from reaching the marketplace.”, Mr. Jones said in his resignation letter. "These layoffs compromise this mission."

Tobacco and nicotine product review seriously compromised

Public health experts worry that the layoffs could further slow the FDA’s review of new tobacco products, including flavored vaping products. Previous administrations’ wait-and-see policies have often been criticized for allowing a flood of unregulated vaping products to enter the market. The layoffs could have similar consequences.

"The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products is the only agency standing between the tobacco industry and a new generation of nicotine addicts," said Matthew Myers, former president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. These layoffs clearly show that the administration is prioritizing deregulation over public health." Public health advocates warn that the consequences of the layoffs could be felt for years, potentially reversing hard-won gains in combating smoking and the use of vaping and other nicotine products in the United States.

An unprecedented situation which dangerously compromises public health

The layoffs have prompted lawmakers, particularly House Democrats, to call for an explanation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Democratic representatives expressed concern that the layoffs could jeopardize public health efforts, especially at a time when agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are also facing staff reductions.

The layoffs have also drawn legal challenges. A federal judge in San Francisco recently ruled that mass layoffs of federal probationary employees were illegal, increasing the likelihood that at least some of the laid-off staff will be reinstated. The decision has added complexity to the administration’s efforts to reshape federal health agencies.

AE

[1] Matthew Chapman, Jason McLureand, María Pérez, Mass firings hit thousands US tobacco regulators overwhelmed with new products, The Examination, published February 28, 2025, accessed March 3, 2025