In a significant restructuring at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nearly half a dozen senior veterinarians were laid off in a sweeping purge. This decision has raised concerns, particularly as these employees were part of a center that has been pivotal in addressing the recent bird flu outbreak that began affecting dairy herds last spring. According to three FDA staffers, who wished to remain anonymous due to restrictions on public comments, the layoffs included veterinarians who played crucial roles in research that demonstrated how pasteurization kills the bird flu virus in milk products available in stores.
Recently, the veterinarians from this center have been instrumental in investigating the source of bird flu in raw pet food. Their efforts led to two recalls last month due to potential contamination with the H5N1 virus. The cuts also affected staff members who were responsible for public communication, outlining ways for Americans to safeguard their pets from the virus. One staff member emphasized the importance of public awareness, stating, “Word has to get to people. If things happen behind the walls of government, and we’re not sharing it with the public then all the work that we do is not getting out so that people can take the steps they need to protect themselves.”
The layoffs are part of a larger upheaval at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This week, senior leaders across various agencies faced administrative leave or reassignment, with thousands of employees losing their jobs. The sheer scale of these layoffs left many workers stunned. HHS has characterized these job cuts as predominantly affecting administrative roles, such as those in human resources and information technology.
In light of the layoffs, Democratic leaders on the House Oversight Committee have launched an investigation into Kennedy’s handling of the bird flu outbreak. They cited his controversial suggestion to create immunity for birds, a proposal that has drawn criticism from public health experts. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) expressed his dismay, stating, “This is one of the dumbest things you could possibly do with your government, laying off the very people you need to combat one of the biggest problems affecting our food supply right now.”
As news of the layoffs spread through the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, concerns about the impact on public health and food safety surged. Notably, Tristan Colonius, the agency’s chief veterinarian and co-lead on the FDA’s bird flu response, was among those let go. Other senior veterinarians with extensive experience, including one who has dedicated over three decades to the center, were also affected. The abrupt nature of these cuts has left some in the veterinary community uncertain about who remains to continue their essential work.
Sandra Faeh, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), expressed the organization’s commitment to collaborating with Congress and the administration to restore essential positions within various agencies. “The AVMA works on a weekly basis with the very talented and dedicated veterinarians at the CVM on issues involving not only animal health, but also animal and human food safety, public health, and issues affecting international trade,” Faeh stated.
The Trump administration faces increasing pressure to manage the bird flu outbreak, which has severely impacted the agriculture sector and driven up egg prices. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture had initially terminated some probationary workers involved in the federal response to avian influenza, those terminations were later rescinded. Some affected FDA staff members had also been collaborating with the USDA to develop new therapies for treating sick poultry.
While much of the H5 bird flu response remains intact at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four staff members involved in H5 were also laid off, including three working on improving personal protective equipment for frontline workers dealing with H5N1 and other viruses. Since the outbreak was first detected in dairy cattle a year ago, it has spread to nearly 1,000 herds and has infected various animals, including at least 70 people. Public health experts warn that the virus’s continued spread among species increases the risk of it becoming more lethal and easily transmissible to humans.
Beyond the immediate concerns of bird flu, the layoffs at the FDA have implications for broader disease response initiatives. At least two veterinarians laid off were involved in creating a new national action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance. This issue poses severe risks, as antimicrobial resistance can render bacterial infections increasingly difficult to treat, affecting millions of Americans annually. Drug-resistant germs are responsible for approximately 3 million illnesses and 35,000 deaths each year in the U.S., according to CDC data.
Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and the newly appointed FDA commissioner, has highlighted the importance of addressing antimicrobial resistance. He previously co-authored a paper advocating for a reduction in routine antibiotic use in animals to combat the declining effectiveness of antibiotics in human medicine. Following the layoffs, Makary held a welcome event for staff, aligning with Kennedy’s agenda to promote healthier living, but did not field any questions from attendees.
As the FDA navigates these significant changes, the impact on public health and food safety remains a pressing concern, particularly in the face of ongoing animal health crises like the bird flu outbreak.
