According to the Associated Press(AP), after thousands of employees at federal public health agencies were fired the week prior, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking some staffers to return, including at least ten people who are responsible for reviewing the safety of food ingredients.
FDA did not officially respond to requests about how many employees were being reinstated, but anonymous inside sources told Reutersthe agency plans to rehire approximately 300 people responsible for reviewing drugs, food safety, medical devices, and tobacco. Reuters could not verify the figure, but was told by the White House that the presidential administration originally fired more than 1,000 FDA staffers.