Washington, DC—James "Jim" Jones, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, has resigned from the position he has held since 2023. The news follows the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In an interview with STAT that was posted after the resignation, Jones indicated that he had been "very excited about the agenda that Secretary Kennedy has articulated for foods, in particular around nutrition and food chemical safety," but added his concerns about actions he says the administration has taken toward federal employees, including the firing of 89 people in the food division. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that, according to Jones, the layoffs of 89 people in the FDA’s human foods program over the weekend included staff with expertise in infant formula safety, as well as 10 workers who had been hired to review potentially unsafe food ingredients.

Fox News quoted Jones as saying, "I was looking forward to working to pursue the Department's agenda of improving the health of Americans by reducing diet-related chronic disease and risks from chemicals in food. It has been increasingly clear that with the Trump Administration's disdain for the very people necessary to implement your agenda, however, it would have been fruitless for me to continue in this role."

NBC News reported that, in response to a question about Jones' resignation on Tuesday morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: "There are a number of bureaucrats who are resistant to the democratic process and mandate delivered by the American people...President Trump is only interested in the best and most qualified people who are also willing to implement his America First Agenda on behalf of the American people."

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) released a statement on Jones' resignation: "While staffing changes can occur during any presidential transition, it is critical that the FDA maintains the resources, expertise and staffing levels necessary to ensure effective dietary supplement oversight that undergirds consumer confidence in the supplement market. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has recognized dietary supplements as a key component of integrative healthcare and has called attention to the connection between better nutrition and better health. We’re excited to pursue this vision but realize it will require oversight and review of new ingredients, reasonable guardrails for the industry, and enforcement muscle to ensure a level playing field. We hope that reductions in FDA staff do not jeopardize that vision.
"The incoming Commissioner-nominee, Dr. Martin 'Marty' Makary, offers an opportunity to strengthen the role of dietary supplements in preventative healthcare and recalibrate FDA’s regulatory approach. A well-structured and well-resourced FDA is essential to ensuring the dietary supplement marketplace is science-based and that requirements that protect consumer safety are effectively enforced. CRN looks forward to working with the FDA and policymakers to advance a regulatory framework that supports both consumer safety and industry innovation."

Related: RFK Jr. Confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services; Industry Reacts