A coalition of 15 public health, food industry, and consumer protection groups and experts have voiced their concern about the recent firing of 89 staff members within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Human Foods Program, leading to the resignation of Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods James (Jim) Jones.

Food Safety and Consumer Advocacy Groups Express Concern

In response to the layoffs within FDA’s Human Foods Program and Mr. Jones’ resignation, major names in food safety and consumer protection advocacy have shared their concern, stating, “Maintaining safe, accessible, and affordable food is a fundamental public health priority and a key component of the Make America Healthy Again platform. An under-resourced food safety agency could jeopardize Secretary Kennedy’s [Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] stated objectives to improve nutrition and ingredient safety for children and adults. Adequate resources are critical not only for outbreak response but also for developing and updating food safety standards, providing science-based industry guidance, and ensuring a well-trained federal-state inspection force to protect the integrity of our food system.”

The members of the coalition that issued the aforementioned statement include:

Individuals who signed the statement include Darin Detwiler, L.P.D., a leading food safety advocate and consultant; renowned foodborne illness lawyer and attorney Bill Marler, J.D.; and expert Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., Founder of Food Safety Strategy and former Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association.

Mass Layoffs in FDA’s Human Foods Program and the Resignation of Deputy Commissioner Jones

On February 13, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), notable for his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda targeting unhealthy food and “unsafe” food additives, was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under which FDA falls. One of RFK Jr.’s first actions as HHS Secretary was to sign the Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission executive order, which, among other mandates, orders the FDA Commissioner and other heads of federal public health agencies to assess children’s exposure to certain food ingredients and chemicals. In the following days, mass layoffs were implemented at FDA (as well as at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA], and other federal agencies).

The layoffs at FDA included 89 staff members within the Human Foods Program alone, led by Deputy Commissioner Jones. According to a February 17 resignation letter submitted by Mr. Jones, the dismissal of employees with “highly technical expertise in nutrition, infant formula, and food safety response” would make it “fruitless” for him to continue in his role, and is contrary to “the department’s agenda of improving the health of Americans by reducing diet-related chronic disease and risks from chemicals in food”—an objective Mr. Jones had prioritized since he assumed to role of FDA Deputy Commissioner in September 2023.

Mr. Jones’ resignation was first reported by Helena Bottmiller Evich’s Food Fix and the details of his resignation letter were revealed by Bloomberg.