Medical Device Industry Protests Firings of FDA Workers

The group that represents medical device makers in Washington is coming out against the Trump administration’s firings of employees who regulate the industry.

Scott Whitaker, chief executive officer of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, sent a letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services Tuesday arguing that cuts to the Food and Drug Administration’s medical device center won’t save taxpayer money. That’s because some of the positions are funded through user fees that companies pay the FDA for the review of medical devices — an arrangement that was approved by Congress.

“It saves no money and ...