Lawmakers Demand FDA Halt “Operation Stork Speed” Until HHS Employees Are Rehired and Proper Guardrails in Place

Text of Letter

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Reproductive Health Care Task Force, alongside DWC member Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mamas’ Caucus Chair Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) led 21 Democratic Caucus members in sounding the alarm over the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) launch of Operation Stork Speed — an initiative the agency claims will evaluate the safety of nutrients and ingredients found in infant formula.

In their letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, the lawmakers raise concerns over the safety and feasibility of Operation Stork Speed while laying off tens of thousands of HHS employees — including 3,500 at the FDA, many of whom oversee infant formula and nutrition. They also demand the FDA halt this initiative until HHS employees are rehired and until there are proper guardrails to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based review.  

“The infant formula supply chain is fragile, and even a small disruption can have devastating consequences. No parent or guardian should struggle to feed their child due to failed safety standards, corporate greed or supply chain failures. Ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible formula is a matter of public health, economic justice, and basic dignity for families—especially women who are often primary caregivers,” wrote the lawmakers.

“From gutting staff responsible for scientific research to perpetuating anti-vaccine theories, you have repeatedly undermined scientific research. This, coupled with President Trump’s arbitrary mandate for federal agencies to repeal 10 regulations for every new rule, serves to further jeopardize the health and safety of families,” continued the lawmakers.

The Members also call on the agency to ensure infant formula is safe, accessible and affordable for all women and babies who need it in the face of ongoing regulatory reversals and staff reduction. 

“Ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible formula is a matter of public health, economic justice, and basic dignity for families—especially women who are often primary caregivers. We ask for your swift response to our questions regarding how you will ensure infant formula is safe, accessible and affordable for all women and babies who need it in the face of ongoing regulatory reversals and staff reduction,” concluded the lawmakers.

In addition to letter leads Ayanna Pressley, Brittany Pettersen, Rashida Tlaib, and Jimmy Gomez, the letter was signed by Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez, Deborah Ross, Nikema Williams, Jasmine Crockett, Andrea Salinas, LaMonica McIver, Pramila Jayapal, Nydia Velázquez, Julie Johnson, Kelly Morrison, Summer Lee, Dan Goldman, Eric Swalwell, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Delia Ramirez, Suzanne Bonamici, Laura Friedman, Veronica Escobar, Yvette Clarke, and Jan Schakowsky.

Text of the letter can be found here.

Rep. Pressley has long advocated for safe, accessible, and affordable baby formula.

In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) and Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Grace Meng (NY-06), urged President Biden to use all applicable executive authorities to end the baby formula shortage.

Through her efforts on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the Committee had previously requested information from the nation’s largest formula manufacturers on their efforts to address the shortage of infant formula that is impacting families across the United States.

In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) and the Massachusetts delegation, sent a letter to Abbott Laboratories Chairman and CEO Robert Ford requesting urgent information on the company’s plans to replenish its Similac baby formula in Massachusetts.

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