FDA employees consider how to handle RFK Jr., including leaving

Some staff members at the Food and Drug Administration are considering a quick exit as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being floated as a potential health official in the incoming Trump administration, according to three former and one current government official who were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive issues. The former officials are still in touch with colleagues who work at the FDA.

Staff turnover is typical when a new administration comes in, and a significant number of FDA employees similarly considered leaving before President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in office, said one former and one current official. At the time, there were also concerns about what the FDA would look like under the first Trump administration. 

But there ended up being “relatively little turnover” at the time, said one former official, adding that Trump’s first term generally worked out well for those who stayed at the FDA,  as they were able to “execute” on new priorities for the agency, such as accelerated drug approvals. 

This time, however, there’s an added layer of anxiety outside Trump: Kennedy. 

“With the first administration, more people took a wait-and-see approach. Now, between the concerns about new post-employment restrictions and the risk of involuntary separation, more people are looking proactively,” one former official said. 

The current official agreed with that assessment, adding that “dozens” are most likely considering their options. 

It’s not yet known what kind of health role Kennedy will have in the administration — if any — but Trump has said he’ll let the former independent presidential candidate and vaccine skeptic “go wild on health.”  Meanwhile, Kennedy is promising a shakeup at the federal health agencies, including the FDA, telling NBC News the day after the election  that “in some categories, there are entire departments, like the nutrition department at the FDA that are, that have to go.” 

“The question now is, will the agency have leadership that’s able to come in and continue to advance innovative new products, or is there going to be leadership that tries to shake things up in a way that actually could make it harder for the agency to do its core mission?” one of the former officials said.

The FDA did not respond to a request for comment on whether employees were considering leaving.

One former official and one current official said that at this time it’s all chatter and it’s unclear if anyone has left yet or made any serious plans to do so.

At a cancer research event Tuesday, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said he was “disappointed” with the election results and was uncertain about the agency’s future.

Asked whether he foresees any kind of “mass exodus” of employees, Califf said, “I think people are waiting to see.”

“We just don’t know what’s going to happen now,” Califf said. “I do think it’s pretty clear that the gist of this administration from everything that’s been said is to change a lot of things and how it gets changed depends on who gets appointed into key positions and how the various policies play out.”

Trump has also suggested he may seek to end the so-called revolving door, where government officials who leave the agency end up lobbying their former colleagues — an added layer of concern for staff about their future job prospects if they stay, one person said. 

Another said they weren’t sure how such a restriction would look or how Trump would make it binding retroactively.

One person said that a number of staffers at the FDA are up for retirement, and “ some may think now would be an opportune time to do so.” There are more than 18,000 employees at the FDA, according to the agency. 

It’s also possible Kennedy will be put in a role that has little or no influence over the overall functioning of the FDA. 

Last month, NBC News reported that the Trump campaign was thinking of having Kennedy spearhead what’s been described as “Operation Warp Speed for childhood chronic disease,” referring to the title of the Covid vaccine development project during Trump’s first term. 

Kennedy has also floated the idea that he would be a White House “health czar.”