Lawmakers warn of impact HHS firings will have on medical device cybersecurity efforts

Summary: The recent layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services have raised significant concerns about the impact on medical device cybersecurity reviews, as the FDA has already faced staffing challenges. Lawmakers highlighted the risk to patient safety and innovation in medical devices due to reduced expertise at the FDA. Experts warned that these changes could hinder the agency’s ability to respond to cybersecurity threats effectively.

Affected: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Keypoints :

• Thousands were laid off from HHS, impacting the FDA’s cybersecurity workforce.
• Concerns were raised about the ability to ensure medical device safety without adequate staffing.
• Expert witnesses emphasized that the firings would complicate response efforts to cybersecurity threats.
• The hearing revealed a call for increased funding and personnel dedicated to medical device cybersecurity.
• Political tensions arose regarding Elon Musk’s influence over FDA staffing decisions.