Former Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) scientists rallied in freezing temperatures this week, condemning sweeping federal layoffs they claim jeopardize food safety, medical research, and addiction crisis management. Over HHS budget cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency have terminated thousands, including critical FDA chemists and NIH oversight specialists.
One fired FDA food safety expert, who developed methods to detect plastic contaminants in foods, told ABC News:
People are going to get sick. With fewer staff, testing delays mean unsafe products could slip through.
Her team conducted nationwide random food sampling — a process now slowed by abrupt staffing reductions. Meanwhile, Katie Reichard, a former HHS drug policy analyst, warned halted overdose prevention research threatens vulnerable communities:
Without oversight, funds face misuse. We ensured accountability. Now, lifesaving programs risk collapse.
The terminations have disrupted:
- FDA reviews of new food additives
- Monitoring of pharmaceutical supply chains
- NIH grants for chronic disease studies
Katie Overby of the FDA’s chemical review office confirmed her team lost 10% of staff mid-project, freezing critical approvals. She fears industries may bypass safety protocols if oversight weakens.
Many ousted scientists were early-career specialists tackling urgent health challenges. Their dismissals, protesters argue, contradict HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledges to combat chronic diseases through medical innovation. With unemployment rising, experts warn the cuts may trigger a brain drain from federal health agencies, undermining U.S. scientific leadership for decades.