FDA Rehires Medical Device Reviewers Terminated By DOGE

Many of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees overseeing medical device testing and approvals who were terminated under orders from the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had their positions restored by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following backlash from healthcare groups and lawmakers regarding the move, reports SC Media.

Medical device reviewers and food safety experts were among those reinstated by the FDA, with The New York Times reporting the rehiring of a dozen employees each for cardiovascular device oversight and artificial intelligence-based medical software approvals, and AdvaMed President and CEO Scott Whitaker noted the return of a majority of Medical Device User Fee Amendment workers.

While similar employee reinstatement was conducted by the Department of Agriculture, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Indian Health Service, such layoff reversals have not been observed at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the U.S. Digital Service, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.