FDA Commissioner Warns Employees Of Possible Layoffs

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The head of the Food and Drug Administration alerted the agency's employees Friday that 2,000 of them could get layoff notices as early as next week if Congress fails to renew user

Friday, September 14th 2007, 9:39 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The head of the Food and Drug Administration alerted the agency's employees Friday that 2,000 of them could get layoff notices as early as next week if Congress fails to renew user fees for drugs and medical devices.

FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach sent an agency-wide memo to staff at the end of the workday. He said he was confident that lawmakers would renew user fees that help fund the agency's work, but he also wanted them to know that a consequence of not renewing the fees would be a reduction-in-force notice. The layoffs would take effect 60 days after issuance of such a notice.

``All parties fully understand the importance of meeting the September 21st deadline because no one underestimates or fails to appreciate the disruption and demoralizing impact that even the threat of a RIF is having on you and your families,'' von Eschenbach wrote.

The commissioner said that FDA and congressional staff were working around the clock, including weekends to finalize the legislation.

``As we approach next Friday, I will have further opportunities to update you and discuss our options and plans,'' he said.

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of medicine, the nation's food supply and medical devices.

Both chambers of Congress have passed legislation that renews through 2012 a program that has the drug industry pay fees to the agency to defray the cost of reviewing new medicines.

In the wake of the Vioxx withdrawal and subsequent problems with other drugs, lawmakers seized on the legislation to overhaul how the FDA handles the safety of the drugs it regulates. The bills gather together other legislation as well, including the reauthorization of a medical device industry user fee program.

The House and Senate are trying to resolve the differences between their respective bills.