The Trump administration's effort to slash the size of the federal workforce reached the FDA this weekend, as recently hired employees who review the safety of food ingredients, medical devices and other products were fired. Probationary employees across the FDA received notices Saturday evening that their jobs were being eliminated. The total number of positions eliminated was not clear Sunday, but the firings appeared to focus on employees in the agency's centers for food, medical devices and tobacco products. It was not clear whether FDA employees who review drugs were exempted.
