Sources: FDA staff being told to take laptops home in anticipation of RIF email

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff are being told to take their work laptops home in anticipation of an email from the agency about whether they have been laid off as part of the reduction in force (RIF) initiative announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week, according to sources who spoke to Focus and were granted anonymity due to fear of professional reprisal.

Staff who receive emails will be required to work from home during a transition period.

Two high-level FDA officials who spoke to Focus on anonymity to protect themselves from professional reprisals, said that managers at various centers and offices are being directed to tell staff to take their laptops home and expect a potential RIF email.

“We had a managers meeting, and it was confirmed that we are to bring our laptops home because once we get notifications, we cannot come back to campus to get anything,” said a source. “We will have 30 to 60 days to transition work, and during that time, we will make an appointment to come back on campus to be able to get our things from our offices.”

Last week, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. announced that in addition to the approximately 10,000 workers who have either voluntarily left or have been fired by HHS as part of the Trump administration’s RIF, he would fire up to another 10,000 workers, including approximately 3,500 workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (RELATED: HHS to cut 10,000 more jobs across HHS, including 3,500 from FDA, Regulatory Focus 27 March 2025)

Sources told Focus that center directors at FDA have not been informed of who is on the latest RIF list. Martin Makary was also reportedly sworn in as FDA commissioner on Friday, though agency staff were not notified of the news and the agency’s leadership page still lists Sara Brenner as acting commissioner.

“Many believe that he hasn’t [joined yet] because they want the RIF to happen first,” said a source. “We have had no emails welcoming him or any all-hands meeting like we typically would when a new commissioner starts.”

The sources said the whole ordeal has been nerve-wracking. “They should just get it over with already,” said a source. “This is ridiculous.”

“It has been absolutely awful,” said another source. “In the decades I have worked at FDA, we have never experienced anything as awful as this.”

“It is not the same FDA many of us loved working for,” they added.

Sources: FDA staff being told to take laptops home in anticipation of RIF email

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