FDA Neuralink Overseers Fired Amid Government Layoffs
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dismissed around 20 employees over the weekend, including staff responsible for reviewing Elon Musk’s brain implant company, Neuralink. The layoffs were part of a broader federal workforce reduction under the Trump administration, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Neuralink Reviewers Among Those Cut
The affected employees worked in the FDA’s Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices, which oversees clinical trial applications for brain-computer interface devices, including Neuralink’s implants. While the sources did not believe the employees were specifically targeted due to their work on Neuralink, they warned that the reduction in staff could slow down the review of medical devices, affecting Neuralink and other companies in the sector.
Victor Krauthamer, a former FDA official, expressed concerns about the impact on Neuralink’s ongoing human trials. “It’s intimidating to the FDA professionals who are overseeing Neuralink’s trial,” he said, adding that patient safety could be at risk.
White House Defends Layoffs Amid Conflict of Interest Concerns
The White House defended the layoffs, with spokesperson Kush Desai stating that the Trump administration would “abide by ethics laws.” Trump has maintained that Musk will recuse himself from any potential conflicts of interest between his business ventures and his efforts to reduce government spending. Neither the FDA nor Musk responded to requests for comment.
The dismissed employees were probationary staff, meaning they had less than one or two years of service and fewer legal protections. Dismissal letters cited performance-related reasons, despite the employees previously receiving top performance ratings just weeks earlier. Supervisors were not consulted before the terminations.
Neuralink’s Trials and Regulatory Scrutiny
Neuralink is currently testing its brain implant technology on paralyzed patients, allowing them to use digital devices through thought alone. The company is also developing an implant aimed at restoring vision. The FDA had previously granted the device a special designation to accelerate development and review.
Musk, a major financial backer of Trump’s re-election campaign, has played a leading role in the federal cost-cutting effort, which has affected multiple agencies, including those regulating Tesla and SpaceX.
With these FDA layoffs, experts now worry about the integrity and safety of Neuralink’s trials and future medical device approvals.
With inputs from Reuters
