Gottleib Thanks FDA Employees as Paychecks Are Missed

As thousands of FDA employees missed their normal paychecks 1/11, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb posted a special note of gratitude for their dedication to their public health mission. “I deeply regret these hardships,” he said on his Twitter feed. “And I admire very much their continued dedication to our special mission.”

Gottlieb acknowledged that the partial government shutdown has caused FDA to put off important agency work. He said resources are being redirected to the agency’s consumer protection role and “keeping Americans safe.”

Additionally, FDA has posted an updated resource on frequently asked questions. For example, it says that employees not receiving a paycheck will still have health insurance coverage even if premium payments are not made on time. Insurance premiums will accumulate and be withheld from pay when employees return to their normal pay status.