The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is rehiring some recently fired employees, including those who handle travel bookings for safety inspectors. More than 20 of the roughly 60 travel staff will be reinstated, according to sources familiar with the plan. Food scientists who test samples for bacteria and study potentially harmful chemicals have also been told they will regain their jobs, though no official confirmation has been issued yet. Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over employees responsible for processing agency records under the Freedom of Information Act. About 100 of these staffers were recently eliminated, but missed court-ordered deadlines for document production have prompted plans to bring some back. This reversal highlights the disorganized approach to recent workforce reductions, which have cut an estimated 20% of the FDA’s workforce. In February, the FDA laid off around 700 provisional employees, only to rehire many after pushback from industry and Congress. Despite assurances from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary that no scientists were fired, at least two dozen food scientists were let go in March. The Department of Health and Human Services has not provided detailed information on which positions or programs were affected by the layoffs. — new from AP News
