To address the challenges of building and retaining a diverse, talented work force in a competitive environment, the FDA is rolling out a pilot program to more directly align its hiring procedures with the scientific staffing objectives of its programs. The pilot will initially focus on filling PDUFA-related positions in the agency's drug and biologics programs. The model will rely on a group of full-time FDA staff with experience recruiting specialized scientific and medical experts to ensure that the agency predictably identifies, recruits and efficiently hires the needed personnel. In addition to testing new hiring procedures, the agency is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its current practices.

The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously voted last week to favorably report its fiscal 2018 spending bill for the FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture to the full Senate. The bill provides $2.8 billion in discretionary funding for the FDA, which is $1 million more than the fiscal 2017 enacted level. Total FDA funding, including user fee revenue, is $5.2 billion – $491 million more than this year. The bill includes $60 million as authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act.