The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized a new strategy to counter the disruptions caused by recent sweeping layoffs: hiring contractors to replace some of the terminated employees. The move follows steep cuts to the agency’s workforce, which have significantly impacted critical areas, including drug and food safety inspections.

Last month, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced wide-ranging job cuts across his department, assuring the public that essential safety inspectors would be unaffected. However, the layoffs included staff responsible for critical support roles—such as coordinating complex international trips to pharmaceutical plants in remote parts of India, lab scientists testing food for contamination, and communication specialists who handled urgent safety recalls.

With internal operations strained, FDA leaders are moving quickly to mitigate the potential disruption. According to staffers quoted by the Associated Press, the agency has expedited plans to hire contractors, beginning with personnel needed to arrange foreign travel for inspections. However, under FDA policy, employees are prohibited from publicly discussing sensitive internal matters without prior approval.

The reliance on outside contractors raises questions about the long-term impact on the FDA’s operational effectiveness and whether the agency can maintain its rigorous standards for food and drug safety amid the changes. As the FDA transitions to this new staffing model, public health experts and stakeholders are closely watching to see how the shake-up will affect regulatory oversight.