The head of the FDA’s food division, Jim Jones, resigned on Monday, citing significant staff cuts within the agency as a major barrier to achieving the Trump administration’s health goals. Jones criticized the recent termination of 89 employees in the food division, calling the layoffs “indiscriminate.”

In his resignation letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, Jones expressed his disappointment over the cuts, stating that they would make it nearly impossible to fulfill the administration’s objectives. He had hoped to focus on improving public health by tackling diet-related diseases and reducing chemical risks in food.

Jones explained that it would be “fruitless” for him to continue in his role due to the administration’s apparent disregard for the experts necessary to implement these changes.

In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that some “bureaucrats” were resisting the will of the American people. She emphasized that President Trump seeks to work with “the best and most qualified people,” aligned with his America First agenda.

The staff members affected by the layoffs included experts in critical areas like nutrition, infant formula, and food safety. Jones specifically highlighted that 10 of those let go were responsible for reviewing potentially unsafe ingredients in food.

During his tenure Jones led efforts to ban red dye No. 3, a move that was finalized by the FDA last month under the Biden administration. Additionally, President Trump has nominated Dr. Marty Makary, a surgeon from Johns Hopkins, to lead the FDA, though his confirmation is still pending.