FDA’s Revolving Door? The Agency moves to rehire CDRH staffers fired days earlier

By MedTech Intelligence Staff
February 25, 2025


• Categories: 05-Quality/Regulatory, Regulatory, Topic - Regulatory & Quality Intelligence

The Associated Press reported barely a week after mass firings at the Food and Drug Administration, some probationary staffers received unexpected news over the weekend: The government wants them back.

Beginning Friday night, FDA employees overseeing medical devices received calls and emails notifying them that their recent terminations had been “rescinded effective immediately,” according to messages viewed by AP.

The FDA reinstatements followed pushback by lobbyists for the medical device industry, which pays the agency hundreds of millions of dollars annually to hire extra scientists to review products. The industry’s leading trade group. AdvaMed said Monday “a sizable number” of device reviewers appear to be returning to FDA.

FDA staffers who were reinstated said their immediate supervisors received no explanation or advance notice on the decisions. Instead, staffers received calls or emails from the FDA’s “Office of Talent Solutions,” informing them that their access to FDA computer systems and offices had been restored.

“We are so grateful to still have you working for the FDA and serving the American public!” the emails concluded.

A week earlier, the same employees received emails stating that they were “not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the agency’s current needs.”