A Frederick County resident who works within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Inspections and Investigations said he found out his entire division was placed on administrative leave while he was driving to the office at 5:19 a.m. on April 1.
The man is part of the office’s Division of Travel Operations, which handles domestic and international travel logistics for FDA inspectors and consumer safety officers.
kAmw6 92D 366? 2 7656C2= 6>A=@J66 7@C 23@FE b_ J62CD 2?5 92D 366? 2E E9:D DA64:7:4 5:G:D:@? 7@C @G6C 2 564256] w:D 6>A=@J>6?E :D D6E E@ 6?5 @? yF?6 a]k^Am
kAm%96 5:G:D:@? 92D @G6C e_ 6>A=@J66D] }62C=J 2== @7 E96> H6C6 AFE @? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =62G6 2D A2CE @7 2 C65F4E:@? :? 7@C46[ 6I46AE 7@C 2 76H[ H9@ H6C6 2=C625J A=2??:?8 E@ C6E:C6 E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 >2? 7@F?5 @FE 96 H2D 36:?8 AFE @? =62G6[ 96 D2:5 96 “76=E 4CFD965]”k^Am
kAm“x’> @G6C d_] }@H[ x’> 36:?8 <:?5 @7 E@=5 E92E x >2J 36 C6E:C65[ H9:49 x 5@?’E H2??2 5@] ]]] xE 766=D =:<6 x’> 36:?8 7@C465 E@ 5@ :E[” E96 6>A=@J66 D2:5] “*@F <:?5 @7 76=E 36EC2J65]”k^Am
kAm%96 A6CD@? DA@<6 E@ %96 uC656C:4< }6HD\!@DE 23@FE 9:D 6IA6C:6?46 36:?8 AFE @? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =62G6 3FE 2D<65 E@ ?@E 36 :56?E:7:65[ 5F6 E@ E96 724E 96 :D DE:== 2? 6>A=@J66 2E E96 usp 2?5 :D 4@?46C?65 23@FE A@DD:3=6 C6E2=:2E:@?]k^Am
kAm$:?46 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A E@@< @77:46 :? y2?F2CJ[ 9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D >256 G2C:@FD 677@CED E@ D9C:?< E96 7656C2= H@C<7@C46] u656C2= 286?4:6D H6C6 5:C64E65 E@ 7:C6 6>A=@J66D @C AFE E96> @? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =62G6 H:E9 =:EE=6 E@ ?@ 25G2?46 ?@E:46]k^Am
kAm%96 5:DD@=FE:@? @7 E96 ~77:46 @7 x?DA64E:@?D 2?5 x?G6DE:82E:@?D’ s:G:D:@? @7 %C2G6= ~A6C2E:@?D :D A2CE @7 2 C646?E C@F?5 @7 24E:@?D E@ 4FE E96 ?F>36C @7 7656C2= 6>A=@J66D]k^Am
kAm%96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 4FE 23@FE `f_ H@C<6CD 7C@> E96 ~77:46 @7 x?DA64E:@?D 2?5 x?G6DE:82E:@?D 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]43D?6HD]4@>^?6HD^752\7@@5\5CF8\:?DA64E:@?D\=2J@77DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmrq$ }6HDk^2m C6A@CE65 @? pAC:= a[ =625:?8 E@ E96 usp A=2??:?8 E@ 4@?5F4E 76H6C 7@@5 2?5 5CF8 :?DA64E:@?D 5F6 E@ 92G:?8 76H6C 6>A=@J66D]k^Am
kAm%96 uC656C:4< r@F?EJ C6D:56?E D2:5 E96 8@G6C?>6?E :D A=2??:?8 E@ 9:C6 4@?EC24E@CD E@ C6A=246 9:D 5:G:D:@? — D@>6E9:?8 E92E D66>D =:<6 2 D@=FE:@? E@ 2 AC@3=6> E96 8@G6C?>6?E 4C62E65 :ED6=7]k^Am
kAm“x 962C5 :E H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 2 D9@CE\E6C> 7:I[ 3FE H9J 8@ @FE 2?5 D@=:4:E 4@?EC24E@CD H96? J@F 42? ;FDE 3C:?8 E96 6?E:C6 E62> ,324<.[ H9@’G6 366? 5@:?8 E9:D ;@3 7@C `d[ a_ J62CDn” 96 D2:5] “]]] ~?46 H6 DE@A H@C<[ AC6EEJ >F49 6G6CJE9:?8 DE@AD]”k^Am
kAm%96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E %F6D52J[ 2D H6== 2D @E96C C6BF6DED >256 62C=:6C :? pAC:=[ 23@FE E96 ?F>36C @7 6>A=@J66D :>A24E65 :? uC656C:4< r@F?EJ 2?5 |2CJ=2?5 3J E96 =2E6DE ;@3 4FED @C H9@ H6C6 AFE @? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 =62G6]k^Am
kAm%96 6>A=@J66 D2:5 96 3642>6 2 7656C2= 6>A=@J66 27E6C 96 =67E E96 >:=:E2CJ 2?5 H@C<65 2E G2C:@FD 286?4:6D 367@C6 ;@:?:?8 E96 usp :? a_`_]k^Am
kAmpE 7:CDE[ 96 H2D?’E A2CE @7 E96 s:G:D:@? @7 %C2G6= ~A6C2E:@?D 2?5 H2D 2 4@?EC24E DA64:2=:DE 7@C E96 usp]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 6>A=@J66 >@G65 E@ E96 ~77:46 @7 x?DA64E:@?D 2?5 x?G6DE:82E:@?D 2 76H J62CD =2E6C :? a_`c[ 96 D2:5 96 H2D 23=6 E@ DA64:2=:K6 :? “E96 >62E 2?5 A@E2E@6D @7 H92E usp 5@6D” 2D 96 96=A65 724:=:E2E6 5@>6DE:4 2?5 :?E6C?2E:@?2= :?DA64E:@?D]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 :E’D 62DJ E@ E2<6 7@C 8C2?E65 E96 62D6 @7 @A6?:?8 2 >:4C@H2G6 >62= @C FD:?8 2 >65:42= 56G:46 2E 2 5@4E@C’D @77:46]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 5@?’E EJA:42==J E9:?< 23@FE H9@ :?DA64E65 E9@D6 :E6>D E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J’C6 D276 7@C E96 AF3=:4 — A6@A=6 ;FDE 2DDF>6 E92E E96J 2C6 D276[ 3642FD6 @7 :?DA64E:@?D 5@?6 3J E96 usp]k^Am
kAm“*@F <?@H E92E H92E J@F 5@ ,2E E96 usp.[ :E 27764ED ?@E ;FDE E96 86?6C2= AF3=:4] xE 27764ED J@FC 72>:=J] xE 27764ED J@FC 7C:6?5D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms:G:D:@? 5:DD@=G65k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 6>A=@J66 D2:5 9:D 5:G:D:@? H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 7:?5 @FE @? |2C49 b` :7 E96J H6C6 36:?8 AFE @? =62G6[ 3FE D:?46 A6@A=6 5:5?’E C646:G6 6>2:=D[ H@C<6CD E9@F89E E96:C ;@3D H6C6 DA2C65]k^Am
kAm#:89E 27E6C E96 >2? 8@E 2 42== 7C@> 9:D DFA6CG:D@C E96 >@C?:?8 @7 pAC:= ` E@ ?@E 4@>6 E@ H@C< 3642FD6 E96 5:G:D:@? H2D A2CE @7 2 C65F4E:@? :? 7@C46[ E96 >2? EFC?65 2C@F?5 E@ 9625 9@>6 2?5 DE2CE65 ?@E:7J:?8 @E96C 6>A=@J66D]k^Am
kAm%96 >2? D2:5 E96 =6EE6CD ?@E:7J:?8 E96 5:G:D:@? @7 E96 C65F4E:@? :? 7@C46 H6C6 5@?6 :?4@CC64E=J]k^Am
kAm%JA:42==J[ H96? E96 8@G6C?>6?E 4@?5F4ED 2 C65F4E:@? :? 7@C46[ 6>A=@J66D 2C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 36 C2?<65 @? G2C:@FD 4C:E6C:2 :?4=F5:?8 5:D23:=:EJ @C G6E6C2? DE2EFD 2?5 J62CD @7 6>A=@J>6?E]k^Am
kAmx?DE625[ 96 D2:5[ 9:D 6?E:C6 5:G:D:@? H2D AFE @? =62G6 — 2D H6C6 5@K6?D @7 @E96C 5:G:D:@?D :? @E96C usp @77:46D[ 286?4:6D 2?5 46?E6CD]k^Am
kAm$@>6 A2CED @7 E96 usp 27764E65 3J 7656C2= =2J@77D :?4=F56 E96 '244:?6D 2?5 #6=2E65 q:@=@8:42= !C@5F4ED p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66[ E96 r6?E6C 7@C %@3244@ !C@5F4ED 2?5 E96 p86?4J 7@C w62=E942C6 #6D62C49 2?5 "F2=:EJ]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 A2CED @7 E96 usp 2C6 =:DE65 @? 2 5@4F>6?E @3E2:?65 3J %96 uC656C:4< }6HD\!@DE =:DE:?8 @77:46D :? E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 w62=E9 2?5 wF>2? $6CG:46D E92E 2C6 36:?8 6=:>:?2E65 @C C65F465 E@ ?@?\7F?4E:@?2=:EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 >2? D2:5 E96 8@G6C?>6?E 566>65 E92E E96 H@C< 36:?8 5@?6 :? E96 ~77:46 @7 x?DA64E:@?D 2?5 x?G6DE:82E:@?D’ s:G:D:@? @7 %C2G6= ~A6C2E:@?D H2D C65F?52?E[ 2?5 E96C6 H6C6 A6@A=6 2=C625J 4@?5F4E:?8 E9@D6 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D :? 2?@E96C @77:46]k^Am
kAmqFE E92E @E96C @77:46 :D D@ >F49 D>2==6C[ E96 6>A=@J66 D2:5[ 92G:?8 76H6C E92? `_ A6@A=6 4@>A2C65 E@ 9:D 5:G:D:@?[ H9:49 925 >@C6 E92? e_]k^Am
kAm%96 >2? D2:5 E96C6 H2D ?@ EC2?D:E:@? A=2? :? A=246 E@ 6?DFC6 E96 H@C<=@25 4@F=5 36 92?5=65 3J E96 usp 27E6C 9:D 5:G:D:@? H2D 5:DD@=G65]k^Am
kAm%96 52J A6@A=6 8@E E96:C C65F4E:@? :? 7@C46 =6EE6CD[ E96 5:G:D:@?’D =6256CD9:A >6E H:E9 =6256CD @7 E96 ~77:46 @7 x?DA64E:@?D 2?5 x?G6DE:82E:@?D[ H9@ 2D<65 :7 E96 5:G:D:@? 6>A=@J66D 4@F=5 <66A H@C<:?8 H9:=6 E96 @77:46 2D<65 ww$ E@ C64@?D:56C AFEE:?8 A6@A=6 @? =62G6]k^Am
kAm|2?J 6>A=@J66D 49@D6 E@ <66A H@C<:?8[ 2?5 E96 >2? D2:5 E96J 36=:6G65 E96 @77:46 H2D 7:89E:?8 7@C E96 5:G:D:@? E@ <66A CF??:?8]k^Am
kAmqFE @? pAC:= f[ E96 6?E:C6 usp C646:G65 2? 6>2:= 7C@> 2?@E96C @77:46 — ?@E E96 ~77:46 @7 x?DA64E:@?D 2?5 x?G6DE:82E:@?D — D2J:?8 :E D9@F=5 C646:G6 2?J EC2G6= :?BF:C:6D[ C2E96C E92? E96 uC656C:4< r@F?EJ 6>A=@J66’D 5:G:D:@?]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E92E[ E96 5:G:D:@? =6256CD 564:565 E@ DE@A H@C< 2?5 92G6 E96 6>A=@J66D H2=< 2H2J]k^Am
kAm%96 >2? D2:5 9:D 5:G:D:@? H2D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C A=2??:?8 7@C6:8? :?DA64E:@?D] %96C6 92G6 366? E:>6D H96? 2? usp H@C<6C 42==65 E96 5:G:D:@? 7C@> D@>6H96C6 24C@DD E96 H@C=5[ 2D<:?8 7@C 96=A 2E G2C:@FD 9@FCD H:E9 86EE:?8 9@>6 @C A2J:?8 7@C 9@E6=D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D E92E A6CD@?2= E@F49 E92E usp 2?5 @FC EC2G6=6CD 2C6 8@:?8 E@ >:DD :7 J@F 3C:?8 :? 4@?EC24E@CD[” 96 D2:5] “]]] (96? J@F 3C:?8 4@?EC24E@CD :?[ A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E 92G6 2?J <:?5 @7 G6DE65 :?E6C6DE :? E96 >:DD:@?[ :E’D ?@E ;FDE 2== 23@FE :?AFEE:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 AC6DD:?8 ?F>36CD]”k^Am
kAmx? 2== @7 E96 J62CD E96 >2? 92D 366? 2 7656C2= 6>A=@J66[ 96 D2:5 E92E 6G6C D:?46 y2?F2CJ[ E9:D 92D 366? 9:D H@CDE 6IA6C:6?46 H9:=6 H@C<:?8 7@C E96 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am
kAmq6:?8 AFD965 E@H2C5 C6E:C6>6?E G:2 6>2:= — 2?5 H@CCJ:?8 :7 96 42? A2J 9:D >@CE8286 2?5 9@H 96’== 7:?5 8@@5 962=E9 :?DFC2?46 E@ DFAA@CE 9:D 49:=5 H:E9 %JA6 ` 5:236E6D — 92D 366? 56>@C2=:K:?8]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F =@@< 2E J@FC ,C65F4E:@? :? 7@C46. ?@E:7:42E:@?D[ E96 :?7@C>2E:@? H2D :?4@CC64E] xE H2D ;FDE =:<6[ ‘*@F <?@H H92E[ H6 ?665 E@ 9FCCJ FA 2?5 86E E9:D 5@?6[ 2?5 H9@ 42C6D :7 :E’D 4@CC64E @C ?@En’” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“]]] *@F 76=E =:<6 J@F H6C6 =6DD E92? 2 ?F>36C] *@F 76=E =:<6 J@F H6C6 <:?5 @7 :?G:D:3=6[ =:<6 J@F’C6 ?@3@5J[ H96? E96J 5:5 E9:D] %92E’D E96 A2CE E92E <:?5 @7 9FCE >6 E96 >@DE]”k^Am