The Food and Drug Administration came under renewed pressure on Monday from Democratic members of Congress demanding answers over its ability to safeguard imported produce, following a series of foodborne illness outbreaks linked to shipments from Mexico.

FDA employment fell by 22% in 2026 compared with 2024, according to agency data cited in recent reporting. The cuts have affected inspection and food safety divisions responsible for monitoring produce entering the United States, raising questions about the frequency of border checks and laboratory testing capacity.

Representatives on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the FDA, have signalled they will seek documents and briefings on how the agency is managing reduced capacity. Democrats have tied the outbreaks to the Trump administration's broader federal workforce reductions, arguing that public health enforcement has been weakened.

Consumer safety advocates, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, have called for restored funding and clearer data on import inspection rates. The FDA has maintained that it prioritises high-risk shipments and continues to work with Mexican regulators under existing food safety agreements.

The dispute reflects a wider fight in Washington over the consequences of shrinking the federal workforce, with food safety emerging as a politically potent example ahead of the midterm elections. FDA leadership is expected to respond to the congressional inquiries in the coming days.