The ongoing government shutdown effect is now trickling down to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to Forbes, the FDA have over 40% of their staff furloughed which not only affects the inspection of food but also approving new drugs.
Besides the impact on food inspection, there are also short-term and possibly longer-term implications for drug development. While the FDA is continuing to carry out reviews funded by fiscal year (FY) 2018 Prescription Drug User Fee Act user fees, including the review and approval of new drugs and biologics funded by carryover user fee balances, the agency is not accepting FY 2019 user fees until funding appropriations have been authorized, i.e., the political impasse has been resolved.