Attrition of Scientists at Three Regulatory Agencies

In response to a congressional request, GAO described: (1) the net changes that occurred in the employment of scientific personnel in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) during calendar year 1981, and compared these changes with those that occurred in the previous 2 years; (2) the extent to which reductions in force (RIF) and hiring freezes played a role during the periods; and (3) how personnel changes have affected the occupational and functional composition of scientific employees at each agency.