FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box: 211612300 18th St NW Lbby
Washington, DC 20009-9996
January 12, 2026

Doctors for America’s FDA Task Force Concerned by Agency Turnover

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Doctors for America's (DFA) U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Task Force is deeply concerned about the recent exodus of several FDA leaders. The continued turmoil reduces public trust and weakens the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies, ensure safety standards, and safeguard medical research.Over the last month, several high level staff and leaders at FDA have announced their departure from the agency including Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Director Richard Pazdur, Digital Health Center of Excellence Acting Deputy Director Jessica Paulsen, and Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices Director David McMullen. The loss of these agency veterans, whose service spans multiple administrations with a combined tenure of over 40 years, could hinder oversight, slow innovation, and jeopardize patient safety.Alarmingly, these resignations have occurred in the context of both forced and voluntary departures throughout the FDA, reducing the workforce by at least 20%. Complaints from sponsors on the impact of the loss of institutional memory and review capabilities along with compromise of manufacturing inspection capacity indicate that the agency is struggling.A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Medical Device Recalls identified staffing shortages as a key limitation in the agency’s ability to conduct the necessary medical device recall oversight activities. The report outlined several examples of important oversight activities not conducted and went on to recommend FDA “conduct strategic workforce planning to determine the staffing resources, skills, and capacity needed to effectively process and oversee medical device recalls.” The cumulative loss of staff will impact the agency as it begins to fulfill the Congressionally directed obligations included in the recently passed FY26 FDA appropriations measure. The turnover in the Division of Digital Health, which has lost three directors since January 2025 creates a possibly insurmountable obstacle to the development of a regulatory framework for the use of generative AI in medical devices as mandated by FDORA in 2022. Absence of FDA guidance on generative AI medical products will allow continued market flooding by devices of unknown safety and efficacy, which have been implicated in cases of adolescent suicide.The DFA FDA Task Force remains deeply concerned that if these leadership turnovers persist, physicians who rely on the FDA to make treatment decisions will be left without clear, independent guidance on which medical products are truly effective and safe, ultimately putting patients at risk. We urge FDA leaders to help ensure that capacity and staffing shortages are being addressed and reversed swiftly, not inflamed by political conflicts and disagreements. We ask Congress to  exercise its oversight authority to ensure that the FDA has the structure to retain and recruit the experts needed to fulfill its mission. For press inquiries and to discuss this issue with members of Doctors for America, please contact Alli Everton with Continuum Health Group (aeverton@cha-dc.com).

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About Doctors for AmericaDoctors for America (DFA) is a national nonprofit that mobilizes over 40,000 physicians and medical trainees to advocate for policies that improve the health of patients and communities. Through advocacy training and action at the state and federal levels, DFA works to expand access to affordable care, strengthen community health and prevention efforts, and advance health justice and equity. We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical, insurance, or for-profit health care entities, ensuring our work remains fiercely independent and patient-centered. DFA puts patients over politics—and over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and Bluesky drsforamerica.bsky.social.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]