The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) witnessed the departure of large numbers of employees and specialized staff following workforce reduction decisions at the beginning of the Trump administration. Dr. Michelle Tarver, Director of the Center, explained during her speech at The MedTech Conference organized by AdvaMed in Boston, that the center is currently focusing on compensating for those losses through an intensive hiring campaign.
High Attrition Rates Affecting Technical Reviews and Artificial Intelligence
Tarver noted that the center recorded staff attrition rates of about 22% during the past year and the year before. These losses were not distributed equally, as certain sectors were more affected; the center lost up to 30% of clinical reviewers, in addition to the departure of significant numbers of digital health and artificial intelligence experts.
Hiring Campaign and Efforts to Exceed Planned Targets
In light of these challenges, the center has entered a very active hiring phase. Although the FDA has not yet received final guidance on the details of distributing a previous government mandate to hire 2,200 people agency-wide, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health has managed to hire more than 65 individuals, thereby exceeding its target goal of 63 individuals for fiscal year 2026 under the Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA) agreements.
Tarver described this achievement as an exceptional effort that reflects the extent of the employees' connection to the agency's mission and its vital importance.
What Does This Development and the Restructuring Process Represent?
These efforts come at a time when the agency is facing clear operational pressures; early last year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to cut about 3,500 employees at the FDA, representing about one-fifth of its total workforce. The layoffs occurred abruptly and in a disorganized manner, including technical issues with facility access and inaccurate emails, leading to increased burdens on the remaining employees despite the rehiring of some who were previously dismissed.
Tarver emphasized that the hiring efforts are not over yet, saying that the center still needs to attract more talent given its regulatory responsibility for overseeing more than 250,000 medical devices.