Major Advocacy Groups Say Mass Layoffs at FDA Could Jeopardize Food Safety, ‘MAHA’ Agenda
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A coalition of 15 public health, food industry, and consumer protection groups and experts have voiced their concern about the recent firing of 89 staff members within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Human Foods Program, leading to the resignation of Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods James (Jim) Jones.
Food Safety and Consumer Advocacy Groups Express Concern
In response to the layoffs within FDA’s Human Foods Program and Mr. Jones’ resignation, major names in food safety and consumer protection advocacy have shared their concern, stating, “Maintaining safe, accessible, and affordable food is a fundamental public health priority and a key component of the Make America Healthy Again platform. An under-resourced food safety agency could jeopardize Secretary Kennedy’s [Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] stated objectives to improve nutrition and ingredient safety for children and adults. Adequate resources are critical not only for outbreak response but also for developing and updating food safety standards, providing science-based industry guidance, and ensuring a well-trained federal-state inspection force to protect the integrity of our food system.”
The members of the coalition that issued the aforementioned statement include:
- The American Frozen Food Institute
- The Association of Food and Drug Officials
- The Association of Public Health Laboratories
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Consumer Brands Association
- Consumer Federation of America
- Consumer Reports
- The Council for Responsible Nutrition
- The Global Cold Chain Alliance
- The Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security, George Washington University
- The International Dairy Foods Association
- STOP Foodborne Illness.
Individuals who signed the statement include Darin Detwiler, L.P.D., a leading food safety advocate and consultant; renowned foodborne illness lawyer and attorney Bill Marler, J.D.; and expert Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., Founder of Food Safety Strategy and former Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association.
Mass Layoffs in FDA’s Human Foods Program and the Resignation of Deputy Commissioner Jones
On February 13, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), notable for his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda targeting unhealthy food and “unsafe” food additives, was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under which FDA falls. One of RFK Jr.’s first actions as HHS Secretary was to sign the Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission executive order, which, among other mandates, orders the FDA Commissioner and other heads of federal public health agencies to assess children’s exposure to certain food ingredients and chemicals. In the following days, mass layoffs were implemented at FDA (as well as at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], and other federal agencies).
The layoffs at FDA included 89 staff members within the Human Foods Program alone, led by Deputy Commissioner Jones. According to a February 17 resignation letter submitted by Mr. Jones, the dismissal of employees with “highly technical expertise in nutrition, infant formula, and food safety response” would make it “fruitless” for him to continue in his role, and is contrary to “the department’s agenda of improving the health of Americans by reducing diet-related chronic disease and risks from chemicals in food”—an objective Mr. Jones had prioritized since he assumed to role of FDA Deputy Commissioner in September 2023.
Mr. Jones’ resignation was first reported by Helena Bottmiller Evich’s Food Fix and the details of his resignation letter were revealed by Bloomberg.
Update, February 21, 2025: Attorney Kyle Diamantas, J.D. is expected to replace Mr. Jones as FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, according to Bloomberg.
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Update, February 25, 2025: According to multiple sources, FDA and USDA are looking to re-hire some employees who were dismissed by the presidential administration, including staffers responsible for reviewing food ingredient safety and avian influenza response.
Update, February 28, 2025: Originally reported by Helena Bottmiller Evich of Food Fix, one of the FDA staffers whom the Trump Administration fired—and then scrambled to re-hire—was a top official in charge of infant formula safety; specifically, the Acting Director for the Office of Critical Foods, who was on the job for less than a year. This is notable because FDA's recent reorganization of its Human Foods Program was precipitated by the infant formula safety and supply crisis of 2022, and strengthened infant formula oversight is now a key priority of the Human Foods Program.
Additionally, USDA is apparently struggling to convince fired employees responsible for avian flu response to come back to the administration, reported Politico. "Roughly a quarter of employees in a critical office testing for the disease were cut, as well as scientists and inspectors. The dismissals have already helped trigger a partial shutdown at one of the department’s research facilities, according to two USDA employees, interrupting some workers’ efforts to fight bird flu and help livestock recover from illness. Now, agency officials are running into logistical challenges in reinstating its bird flu staff — and convincing them to return to jobs," stated Politico. Significantly, without addressing plans to re-staff the agency, USDA announced on February 26 that it intends to address the ongoing HPAI H5N1 outbreak with up to $1 billion in investments, including up to $500 million to support farm biosecurity and up to $100 million for the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and other protection strategies for layer chickens.
Update, March 5, 2025: Following mass layoffs that swept regulatory agencies, including those responsible for food safety and foodborne illness response, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has walked back its orders to fire probationary employees at federal agencies.
