The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fulfills its mission to protect and advance the public health by overseeing the development and approval of new medical products and ensuring that they are safe and effective for American consumers. When taking into consideration the full range of products the FDA oversees, including not just medical products, but food, cosmetics, veterinary and tobacco products, it has been estimated that the FDA is responsible for regulating one-fifth of all consumer spending in the US. With such a critical and far-reaching mission, it becomes essential to the health of the American population that the FDA is adequately funded. 

It has often been observed that, despite the importance of the FDA’s mission, it is funded at a low level, relative to other federal agencies.1 The chart below illustrates the FDA’s budget compared to that of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Fiscal Year 2017.

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The quantity of federal funding in the form of appropriations reflects Congress’ commitment to the FDA’s mission. In addition, as the responsibilities of the agency have grown over the years, so has the budget. Rising appropriations entrusted to the FDA means a safer future for consumers, and a more efficient regulatory platform that would allow essential drugs to be available for those who need them faster.

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Check back soon for a deeper dive into the funding that comprises the FDA’s budget.

1. “Challenges for the FDA: The Future of Drug Safety, Workshop Summary.” Addressing the FDA’s Resource Challenges, National Institute of Health, Jan. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52926/.

 *Ginger Myers served as an intern at Friends of Cancer Research through our 2018 Summer Internship program.