A Time for Reflection and Support for the FDA
In times of hardship, silence can be deafening and disheartening.
For decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stood as a pillar of public health – working tirelessly to ensure that the food we eat, the drugs we take, and the medical devices we rely on are safe, effective, and of high quality. This mission has always come with its own set of challenges, but never have those challenges felt more acute than they do today.
I was shocked – not just by the scope and cruelty of the recent reduction in force (RIF), but also by some of the public reactions that followed. The fact that there were even voices cheering at this moment was deeply disturbing. It took me a while to process it all, and I needed time to collect my thoughts before I could sit down to write this blog.
To be clear, there have been some important voices speaking up. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf has been vocal in defending the agency and its people. And Dr. Peter Marks did not resign quietly – his departure came with sharp and necessary criticism of what is happening. Their leadership and courage to speak the truth during this moment have not gone unnoticed.
But overall, the public and industry response has been largely muted. Such silence, from corners I hoped would speak out, adds insult to injury for those who have given so much in service to public health.
As someone who has worked within this agency, I can’t help but reflect on what FDA could have done better – not in science or policy alone, but in communication.
FDA should have done more to help the American public understand the true nature of FDA’s work: that behind every guidance document, every rigorous review, and every difficult decision is a team of people devoted to protecting and promoting public health. People who often sacrifice personal financial interests, visibility, and even relationships to uphold this mission with integrity. Had FDA done a better job of sharing that story – of showing the human faces and unshakable values behind the acronym “FDA” – perhaps there would be more public voices speaking out in support of FDA employees during this difficult time.
I also wish FDA had done more to build mutual understanding and appreciation with our colleagues in industry. FDA’s work is often invisible but critical. Every early discussion, every well-thought-out feedback letter, every product approval is part of a larger effort to ensure that innovative products can reach patients safely and effectively. These efforts not only protect consumers, but also offer clarity, predictability, and trust in a product’s development process, which can be crucial for a company’s performance. Had that value been more widely recognized and internalized, maybe today we would hear more voices from industry standing with the FDA, acknowledging that their survival and success is, in part, built on this essential partnership.
This is a call – not just for reflection, but for action.
To the industry: if you have benefited from the agency’s guidance, transparency, and commitment to science, now is the time to speak up. Defend the integrity of the process that has helped bring your products to life and to market.
To the public: take a moment to learn more about what the FDA does and the people behind it. Understand that this institution exists to serve us all – and that its strength depends, in part, on our trust and support. Because safeguarding public health is not the work of the agency alone – it is a shared responsibility. Silence, in the face of hardship, is not neutrality. It is neglect!