FDA Delays Staff Cuts as User Fee Deadline Nears

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the agency will postpone sending reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to staff who are funded by user fees until 9/30 unless the FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) is signed by President Trump. Previously, FDA officials told Congress that the RIF notices would be mailed at the end of July if FDARA was not enacted. Currently, the measure has passed the House, but it is slowly proceeding through the Senate.

“However, I’m optimistic it will be considered by the full Senate soon,” Gottlieb said in an email to staff. “I want to reassure you that I’m confident FDARA will be enacted and that these user fee programs will be reauthorized in a timely manner... I have been in regular communication with members of Congress, many of whom have expressed their high degree of confidence that FDARA will be enacted before the authorizations lapse.”