Three former Food and Drug Administration chiefs strongly criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the agency, particularly the mass layoffs of government employees under the DOGE initiative led by Elon Musk. Robert Califf, who served as FDA commissioner under Presidents Obama and Biden, described DOGE as “one of the biggest disasters in American history.”
The DOGE cuts resulted in the loss of 3,500 workers, which was followed by a larger staff exodus during the leadership of former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Makary resigned in May, and White House official Heidi Overton has been nominated to replace him, awaiting Senate confirmation.
Former Officials Criticize Leadership and Staff Cuts
Califf’s criticism was echoed by Scott Gottlieb and Ned Sharpless, who also served as FDA commissioners during the Trump administration. Sharpless described the cuts as “arbitrary,” noting that companies he works with often now find themselves in meetings with more junior and less experienced drug and medical device reviewers.
“You lost a lot of institutional memory,” Gottlieb added.
Optimism for New Leadership
The former officials said the agency may be turning a new leaf with the departures of certain high-profile officials, who they did not name. Califf stated, “I think the sowers of chaos came and went.” Gottlieb praised Kyle Diamantas, the agency’s top food regulator who is now acting commissioner, and FDA policy lead Grace Graham, saying they are encouraging the agency to get “back to the basics.”
Challenges in Rebuilding the Agency
The former officials warned that rebuilding the FDA will take time. They advised Overton, if confirmed, to focus not just on rehiring staff but on reassuring officials that they will be protected from political meddling or further firings. Gottlieb said, “Recruit, support, and defend the workforce.”
Restoring Trust and Focusing on Core Mission
The panelists discussed the need to restore trust in federal agencies, a topic of concern since the Covid-19 pandemic. Sharpless lamented communication errors by federal officials during the pandemic, stating, “During the pandemic, number one is, don’t politicize a vaccine, and, you know, that didn’t last very long.” Califf and Gottlieb criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for eroding public confidence in vaccines. Califf also linked distrust in federal health agencies to high healthcare costs, expressing frustration over the lack of acknowledgment from biotech executives about drug pricing. All three urged the FDA to focus on its core mission of ensuring safe and effective medicine, rather than tackling policy issues outside its mandate.
