FDA Hiring of Scientists Hampered by Government Shutdown

Strides made by the FDA to compete with the private sector in recruiting top scientists could go up in smoke if the government shutdown continues, consultants knowledgeable about the FDA and federal hiring practices told Bloomberg Law.

The Food and Drug Administration has struggled for years with recruiting challenges due to a confluence of factors—including bureaucratic hiring requirements, and the need to fill specialized positions as the medicines it regulates become more complex and advanced. Supervisory positions are particularly hard to fill—a need that will become even more critical as almost half the agency’s senior leaders will be eligible ...