Former FDA Commissioners Condemn Agency Staff Cuts

Three former FDA commissioners sharply criticized the Trump administration’s staff cuts at FDA over the last year, warning that the loss of experienced scientific and regulatory staff has weakened the agency's institutional knowledge and will take years to reverse.

Speaking 10/14 at the 2026 STAT Summit in Boston, former commissioners Robert Califf, Scott Gottlieb and Norman Sharpless said FDA must rebuild its workforce, restore confidence in regulatory decision-making and protect employees from political interference.

“DOGE will go down as one of the biggest disasters in American history,” Califf said, according to an 10/14 report by STAT's Chelsea Cirruzzo.

The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency initiative eliminated about 3,500 FDA positions, followed by additional staff departures during the tenure of former commissioner Marty Makary, who resigned in May.

Sharpless, who served as acting commissioner during President Trump’ s first administration, described the staffing reductions as arbitrary. He said biotechnology companies increasingly encounter junior, less-experienced FDA reviewers during regulatory meetings. Gottlieb, who also served during Trump’s first term, warned that the departures had depleted the agency's institutional memory.

Despite their criticism, the former commissioners expressed some optimism about recent leadership changes. Califf suggested that officials responsible for much of the agency's turmoil had departed. Gottlieb praised acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas and FDA policy chief Grace Graham for efforts to restore stability and refocus the agency on its regulatory responsibilities.

Gottlieb said the current leadership appeared to be making more rational organizational decisions and restoring confidence in the agency's regulatory judgments.

The former commissioners also offered advice to Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee to become the next FDA commissioner. Gottlieb urged Overton to prioritize recruiting experienced personnel, supporting existing employees and defending the scientific workforce against political interference. “Recruit, support, and defend the workforce,” Gottlieb said. “That will bring them back.”

The discussion also addressed declining public confidence in federal health agencies and the influence of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on vaccine policy. Califf accused Kennedy of continuing to undermine public confidence in vaccines, while Gottlieb said his public criticism of Kennedy had prompted him to increase personal security.

However, the former commissioners cautioned against expanding FDA’s responsibilities beyond its statutory mandate. Sharpless argued that the agency should concentrate on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medical products rather than attempting to resolve broader issues such as drug prices or vaccine hesitancy.