After previously firing them, the Food and Drug Administration is looking to rehire employees who go after retailers who illegally sell tobacco to minors, Politico said.

Senior FDA officials asked the employees to temporarily return after the agency realized it lacked the ability to penalize retailers that sell cigarettes to minors, four federal health officials told Politico.

The terminated employees have been asked to return from leave and help maintain continuity until their formal termination in June, Politico said. More than two dozen staffers had agreed to return over fear of losing severance benefits, Politico reported.

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