As the Trump administration takes sweeping actions to try to improve government efficiency, unexpected side effects are arising. One of those directly impacts my field, health and medical technologies. Those of us in this industry find ourselves with a dramatically slower process for getting government approval to bring life-saving tools to the market.
This was surely unintended, and reports suggest that the government may now be scrambling to undo some of the damage. It must be rectified quickly.
In dramatically reducing the federal workforce, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cast a wide net, laying off large numbers of employees. Many of those let go were probationary employees because they were relatively new. (Federal employees generally have probationary status for the first year.)
AI brain drain
A disproportionate number of those workers were in roles that involve AI. This makes sense, since these technologies have been developing quickly. The Biden administration, in what it called an “AI talent surge,” ushered in a wave of AI experts to various roles across the executive branch last year.
Now, there’s been a sudden, rapid AI brain drain in the federal sector. This can affect every department. I see it acutely in health care, where recent AI developments have been a game changer. My company has been working tirelessly to build AI-powered devices that allow people to monitor their heart health from wherever they are. It’s a key to fighting back against the nation’s biggest killer. An estimated 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable.
Such tools can only become available to patients with approval from the Food and Drug Administration, but the FDA has fired many of its AI experts who conduct the approvals process. Now it could take months or years longer.
I have no doubt that this loss of AI personnel was unintended. In fact, the new administration said they want the United States to lead in artificial intelligence.
Fortunately, the government has been trying to rescind some of the firings. But amid the confusion, it’s unclear how many of the workers will return. And in order to entice people who could work in the private sector for more money, the government must make it clear to AI talent that they will have job security, something many federal employees no longer have.
FDA clearance for health technology isn’t just a hurdle; it’s a necessity. Only rigorous testing, overseen and understood by those tasked with representing the public, can ensure that devices are safe to use. At AliveCor, where I work, we have been through this process many times. Last year, we got FDA approval for a portable 12-lead AI-powered ECG device, a hand-held version of the kind of machinery that provides ECGs (electrocardiograms) in hospitals. Once that approval went through, people knew they could trust the efficacy of this device.
Medtech innovation
Not only is FDA approval important, it’s also a crucial incentive for innovation. If potential creators of medical devices face a massive backlog for approval, they’ll be less likely to enter the field and create the next new tools.
Rural areas will be especially hard hit by a lack of tools like ours for remote patient monitoring (RPM). Many have no nearby hospitals or medical centers and have become “health-care deserts.” More than 80% of rural counties are “medically underserved,” according to the National Association of Counties. Tools that can monitor patients at home are transformational.
Remote devices are also necessary to relieve the backlogs at hospitals. Overcrowded emergency rooms have reached crisis levels, and hospitals could face a shortage of beds in the coming years. At-home devices can monitor symptoms, spot problems, and connect patients remotely with health-care providers to offer advice and even schedule in-person appointments. This must be the future of medical care.
There are economic incentives as well. The medical devices industry is skyrocketing around the world. It’s projected to grow from $542 billion in 2024 to $887 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. If the U.S. process is slowed, other countries will surge ahead and grab much more of the market share.
Health is also the most essential element of having a productive workforce. The faster the government restores AI expertise to the FDA, the sooner the country will be on track to building the most technologically advanced future in which people can be healthier—and more efficient.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
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