Former FDA Official Howard Sklamberg Discusses Potential FDA Workforce Developments With POLITICO, Roll Call, and Marketplace Morning Report’s Podcast
Life Sciences & Healthcare Regulatory partner and former FDA official Howard Sklamberg was featured in multiple outlets — including POLITICO, Roll Call, Regulatory Focus, Endpoint News, and Marketplace Morning Report’s podcast — discussing how the Trump administration’s reported plans could slow drug approvals, weaken enforcement activities, and lead to significant attrition among highly skilled FDA personnel.
In speaking with POLITICO, Sklamberg observed that many scientists and physicians choose to work at the FDA because of its mission and the lifestyle it offers. He remarked that the agency’s return-to-office mandates could lead to departures among experienced staff, potentially disrupting the agency’s medical product review process. “A lot of the people who are at FDA have options in the private sector,” said Sklamberg.
Sklamberg pointed out to Roll Call that the FDA is partially funded through user fees rather than taxpayer dollars, making cuts to those roles particularly perplexing. “It would be strange if HHS made cuts to the portions of the agency funded by user fees, given that it actually wouldn’t save taxpayer dollars.” He noted that agency-wide firings could leave the FDA’s inspector workforce particularly vulnerable, explaining that it takes years for inspectors to develop their skill set and they are not easy to replace if the agency later needs to refill cut positions.
Read the POLITICO article: NIH research grant cuts hit with partial court pause (subscription required).
Read the Roll Call articles: Agency firings prompt worries about preparedness, FDA inspectors; Senate Democrats press HHS over FDA firings.
Read the Regulatory Focus article: Experts: FDA staff worried about unfinished work, keeping their jobs.
Read the Endpoint News article: Major FDA staff cuts would slow drug reviews, experts say (subscription required).
Listen to the Marketplace Morning Report podcast: What slashing federal agency budgets could mean for food safety.
