The Trump administration has fired Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees responsible for the federal response to highly pathogenic avian influenza type A H5N1, according to reports published by Reuters, USA Today and other news outlets on Tuesday.
Leadership and administrative staff at the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) were among about 140 staff members fired as part of a larger “reduction in force” in the 700-person agency, according to the USA Today report.
The center regulates animal drugs, food and medical devices has played a key role in limiting the spread of the virus to protect people, pets and farm animals.
In response to questions about cuts to FDA, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson referred to public statements and a fact sheet from the agency and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
HHS, which is expected to shrink from 82,000 employees to 62,000, needed to be pared back to “streamline the functions of the Department,” reduce redundancy and focus on addressing chronic illnesses, according to the administration.
AVMA Responds To Personnel Cuts
Dr. Sandra Faeh, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), said the personnel cuts would limit the agency’s ability to oversee drug availability, antimicrobial resistance efforts, animal and human food safety, international trade and disease control,according to the USA Today report.
“The work done by our veterinarian colleagues in these offices is critical to the safe and effective practice of veterinary medicine, and – ultimately – the protection of animal and public health,” Faeh said in a prepared statement.
A veterinarian at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine received notice of termination in a brief email shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday.
The veterinarian, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, described the cuts as losing the center’s head and body, including its most senior leaders, coordinators and officials with institutional knowledge. The arms and legs left over include some subject-matter experts, said the veterinarian who worked at the center for 17 years.
As a result, the center is losing its structure and ability to respond to issues in real time, said the veterinarian.
This includes limiting ongoing bird flu outbreaks by preventing contaminated food from sickening household cats that could then expose people in their own homes, the veterinarian said.
In a statement, Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog nonprofit, said the cuts across FDA were “arbitrary” and “sweeping.” They would devastate the agency’s ability to communicate about and prevent foodborne outbreaks, ban dangerous chemicals and ensure safety and effectiveness of medical products, he said.
“This is not transparent, efficient, or effective government: It’s creating fear and chaos,” he said.
Portions of this article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump administration cuts FDA staff handling bird flu
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