On track to squeeze FDA budget, Congress still makes detailed demands of agency

House and Senate appropriations committees voted on FDA’s FY25 budget this week and the outcome doesn’t look good for the agency. While the bulk of funding for drug reviews comes from user fees, and therefore isn’t affected by appropriations, FDA depends on taxpayer funding for a wide range of activities that are critical to keep medical product oversight on track, enabling it to stay abreast of scientific advances, and maintaining staffing levels and morale.

The House Appropriations Committee Wednesday voted along party lines to allocate $3.5 billion to FDA for salaries and expenses, which would cut $22 million from the FY24 budget and fall $182 million short of the Biden administration’s request. ...