Dog, According to Reports, Trims Team at FDA Examining Neuralink
It seems like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been consistently eliminating federal employees who are involved in investigating Elon Musk's companies, such as Neuralink. According to reports from Reuters and the New York Times, several employees from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who were handling reviews and applications related to Musk's Neuralink received layoffs over the weekend.
The DOGE's purge is part of a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce, affecting 20 employees from the FDA's office of neurological and physical medicine devices. While sources suggest these employees weren't specifically targeted, the reduction in the medical devices office isn't doing companies like Neuralink any favors. Fewer people to approve applications could result in a slower approval process or compromise on safety standards – potentially the routes Elon Musk might favor.
This trend isn't unique to Neuralink, as at least 11 federal agencies targeted by DOGE cuts are involved in investigations related to Musk's firms, resulting in 32 ongoing actions that may come to a halt or vanish due to staff reductions. The inspector general at the US Department of Agriculture, who was overseeing an investigation into Neuralink for potential animal welfare rule violations, was even removed from her office by security after refusing termination, alleging it as illegal.
The FDA itself has had concerns with Neuralink, finding issue with the company's animal labs and urging improvements on "objectionable conditions or practices." The FDA also rejected Neuralink's human trial requests due to safety concerns in 2022, only approving limited trials a year later, and grated Neuralink its "breakthrough device" designation in 2024, paving the way for faster review processes.
This ongoing situation raises questions about the integrity of the investigation process and the role of DOGE in regulating companies like Neuralink. Federal unions and Congress have raised concerns about the legitimacy and impact of these layoffs, claiming it could erode government services and violate constitutional norms.
The FDA's layoffs could potentially impact the approval process for tech companies like Neuralink, led by Elon Musk's Neuralink, if fewer employees are available to review device applications. This could lead to a slower approval process or compromise on safety standards, which Musk might prefer.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not only affecting Neuralink-related employees but is also targeting 11 other federal agencies investigating Musk's firms, potentially halting 32 ongoing actions.
Elon Musk's companies, including Neuralink, are under scrutiny by the FDA, with the agency finding issues in Neuralink's animal labs and rejecting its human trial requests due to safety concerns in 2022.
The future of regulatory oversight over tech companies like Neuralink remains uncertain, with concerns being raised by federal unions and Congress about the potential erosion of government services and violation of constitutional norms.
