[scrozart]

You're not wrong about funding, but OP is correct about industry influence.

It varies a little by division/subject matter, but they basically have to run everything by industry and are subject to FOIAs and public shaming by senators and representatives beholden to industry.

Source: long-term partner of FDA employee, though this stuff is pretty widely understood.

[trogdor]

> and are subject to FOIAs

How is that relevant?

[scrozart]

Those FOIAs are requested by politicians owned by industry in an effort by industry to scrape whatever leverage they can. FOIAs themselves are not problematic, obviously, but their application isn't limited to do-gooders.