The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to increase the frequency of unannounced inspections at foreign manufacturing facilities that produce food and essential medicines for the U.S. market. This measure aims to ensure that foreign companies adhere to the same regulatory standards and oversight as domestic manufacturers. The FDA's expanded surprise inspections are expected to have implications for enforcement and compliance in the pharmaceutical and food production sectors. Meanwhile, the agency continues to face challenges such as slowed publication of guidance documents and staffing reductions that have affected conflict-of-interest screenings for advisory committee meetings. Additionally, the FDA plans to review four cancer drugs and COVID-19 vaccine formulations in upcoming advisory committee sessions.