Q&A on the Urgent Need for FDA Advocacy
Q: What is the key question all stakeholders should be asking themselves about FDA funding?
A: If we, the stakeholder community, don’t treat a strong, well-funded FDA as a priority, why should we expect Congress to do so?
Q: Did FDA receive level funding in FY 24?
A: Technically, yes; in reality, no. The total FY 24 funding level is a few million dollars less than FY 23. So, FY 24 was close to level with FY 23.
However, in FY 24, the same monies must cover $105 million in increased pay costs and identify $50 million to re-program for specified Congressional priorities.
Q: Will FDA be able to carry out its mission and sustain its initiatives on the money appropriated for FY 24?
A: FDA asked for more than $350 million in additional funding in FY 24, reflecting its expanding mission and growing responsibilities. So, it is disappointing to be given the same appropriated resources as in the prior year, knowing it has to stretch to cover additional costs rather than contribute to a stronger FDA.
The greater threat to FDA is the possibility that the FY 25 appropriations follow the same pattern: level funding that must cover growing pay costs and sustain new initiatives.
With the budget agreement pushing FY 25 domestic spending down, this is a plausible scenario.
If FY 25 appropriations were to be similar to the FY 24 funding, FDA would lose more than a quarter of a billion dollars in purchasing power over about 18 months. The agency will be hurting and it will have a dramatic impact on stakeholders. There will be no painless way to solve the problem of a repeated funding shortfall.
Q: What can organizations, companies, and associations do to help FDA?
A: Here are five steps you can take:
Join the Alliance. The more Alliance members, the bigger our voice and the more effective we can be.
Make a stronger FDA a top priority for your organization.
Participate in Alliance Hill Days in May (for Alliance members, so you should join).
Develop your own organizational case study on how public health and commerce are aided by a strong, well-resourced FDA.
Tell public officials, particularly Members of Congress, that funding FDA should be a national priority, even in the face of budget pressures.
Q: Where can I find out more about FDA funding and the FY 25 budget cycle?
A: The best source is the Alliance website at www.strengthenfda.org. For those needing more background on the President’s Request and the Alliance response, our summary is here and our formal funding “ask” can be found here.
Editorial Note:
The Analysis and Commentary section is written by Steven Grossman, Executive Director of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA.