The Food and Drug Administration announced a pilot program to pay bonus awards to drug review staff who complete reviews ahead of schedule, according to internal slides and a staff presentation by Commissioner Marty Makary. The program bases payments on measured “weighted time savings,” team contributions, and quality metrics, and pilot bonuses are expected to start quarterly in August. Agency officials emphasized the pilot values speed without sacrificing quality, but the move prompted industry and ethics questions about incentives for accelerated reviews. The plan comes amid staff attrition and pressure to shorten review timelines, and it aligns with broader agency efforts to shift review norms and restore throughput while addressing workforce morale. Observers warned the pilot will need transparent allocation rules to avoid perceptions of rushed processes and to maintain confidence in safety and efficacy determinations.