Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating, because that oh-so familiar routine of online meetings, phone calls, and deadlines has returned. But you knew this would happen, yes? After all, the world, such as it is, continues to spin. So time to give it a nudge in a better direction with a cup of stimulation. Our choice today is hot buttery rum. Please feel free to join us. Meanwhile, here is the latest selection of tidbits to help you on your journey. We hope your day is simply smashing and that you conquer the world. And of course, do keep in touch. …
The Trump administration directive that legions of people powering the federal government should leavehas public health experts worried that workers, including those at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will listen — impeding the ability of the agency to review new medicines, move science forward, and protect public health, STAT explains. Reports indicate a forthcoming executive order would halve the FDA workforce, while thousands of workers at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would be impacted. A spokesperson from the Office of Personnel Management said “nothing from an OPM standpoint can confirm this is true.” The White House denied it was preparing such an executive order. Nonetheless, health agencies are bracing for potential layoffs, as some have been asked to make lists of probationary employees and contractors.
President Trump’s order requiring the removal of 10 regulations, rules, or guidances for each new one issued will put administrative pressure on the FDA and other federal health agencies, according to Regulatory Focus. Regulatory experts said this could lead to a more frugal stance from the agency when it comes to promulgating new regulations and guidance. The executive order, issued on Jan. 31, echoes Trump’s controversial “two-out, one-in” order from the beginning of his first administration in 2017. In issuing the new order, Trump claimed that increasing federal regulations carry significant costs and hamper innovation and competitiveness. One regulatory attorney noted that the definition of rules and regulations is broad in the order, so it is unclear how in the Trump Administration and the Office of Management and Budget might interpret how they are counted. For instance, the order also includes memoranda, guidance documents, inter-agency agreements, and policy statements.
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