At least 20 staffers reviewing Elon Musk's insane brain implant company, were just fired in Purge.
FDA employees reviewing Elon Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink were fired over the weekend - the cuts included about 20 people in the FDA’s office of neurological and physical medicine devices. That division includes reviewers overseeing clinical-trial applications by Neuralink and other companies making "brain-computer interface devices". The cuts affected scientists reviewing medical device applications who were probationary employees. Probationary employees usually have less than 1-2 years of service and have fewer legal protections.
“It’s intimidating to the FDA professionals who are overseeing Neuralink’s trial,” said Victor Krauthamer, a former FDA official. “We should be worried about the whole trial, and the protection of the people in the trial."
The FDA, White House, and Musk did not immediately respond to comment requests. Trump has said that Musk will excuse himself from any conflicts of interest between his various business interests and his efforts to cut costs for the federal government. Who's actually going to believe anything these two guys promise??
Neuralink is currently testing its device, which allows paralyzed people to use digital devices solely via thought, in a small number of disabled patients. The company is also working on an implant aimed at restoring vision. Last year, the FDA gave that device a designation aimed at speeding up development and federal review, the company has said.
Employees were told the firings came because of performance reasons, even though the employees had no issues on their prior performance, and had received top-notch rankings several weeks ago. FDA supervisors also WERE NOT consulted before the mass layoffs.
Fun.