Rob Califf, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner under Presidents Obama and Biden, labeled the Department of Government Efficiency initiative one of the biggest disasters in American history. Speaking at the STAT Summit in Boston, Califf joined two other former FDA chiefs to criticize the administration's handling of agency staffing. The group argued that current leadership oversaw a massive exodus that stripped the agency of institutional knowledge requiring years to restore.
The criticism targets the Elon Musk-led initiative, which conducted mass layoffs affecting 3,500 workers. These cuts preceded a broader staff departure under the leadership of former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Makary resigned in May amid tumultuous tenure. Heidi Overton, a White House official, is currently the nominee for Makary's position but has not yet undergone a Senate confirmation vote.