Musk's Task Force Spurs FDA Layoffs on Neuralink

Approximately 20 FDA employees responsible for reviewing Elon Musk's Neuralink applications were dismissed as part of a broader federal workforce reduction. The layoffs affected the FDA's office of neurological and physical medicine devices, which oversees clinical-trial applications for brain-computer interface devices. While sources indicated the employees were not specifically targeted due to their work on Neuralink, the reduction is expected to impede the FDA's ability to process medical device applications efficiently. The dismissals have raised concerns about the protection and oversight of Neuralink's trials, which aim to help paralyzed individuals interact with digital devices through thought. These layoffs are part of a controversial cost-cutting initiative led by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, amid claims of conflicts of interest and an overall reduction in regulatory oversight. Despite the potential implications on medical trials and national security, neither the FDA, Musk, nor the White House have provided comments.