Ex-FDA Chiefs Slam DOGE Cuts as 'Disaster' — SkimNews
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- Robert Califf, FDA commissioner under Obama and Biden, called DOGE "one of the biggest disasters in American history," criticizing the 3,500-worker cuts that preceded a larger staff exodus under subsequent leadership.
- Marty Makary resigned as FDA commissioner in May after tumultuous leadership marked by the post-DOGE staffing collapse.
- Three former FDA chiefs warned the exodus robbed the agency of institutional knowledge that will take years to restore, per STAT.
- The Trump administration delayed by 90 days a federal rule allowing Americans to import prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacies, originally set for Oct. 22.
- Patient advocacy groups and dozens of congressional lawmakers had urged the administration to rethink the rule, arguing it could drastically reduce medicine flows from Canada and other countries.
- The administration said it is trying to crack down on illegal goods, particularly opioids, entering the U.S. through low-value foreign shipments that bypass tariffs and tracking data.
Why it matters: Former FDA chiefs rarely criticize a sitting administration this bluntly, signaling deep institutional concern about the loss of 3,500 DOGE-cut positions and the broader expertise drain under Makary. The 90-day pharmacy import delay preserves patient access to lower-cost Canadian drugs temporarily, while the administration's stated focus on opioid-laced foreign shipments suggests the underlying enforcement push is not going away.
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