US FDA asks fired scientists to return, including some reviewing Musk's Neuralink
Source: Reuters
February 22, 2025 2:27 PM EST Updated 3 hours ago
Feb 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is asking some of its recently fired scientists if they will come back to their jobs, including some employees reviewing Elon Musk's brain implant company, Neuralink, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The FDA plans to rehire around 300 people in total, according to four sources with secondhand knowledge of the situation, following President Donald Trump's rush last week to fire employees at the agency responsible for reviewing drugs, food safety, medical devices and tobacco. Reuters could not verify the figure. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, who oversees Neuralink and spent more than $250 million to help elect Trump, has been leading an effort to cut government workers with his Department of Government Efficiency. Thousands have been cut.
At least 11 employees working at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health - which oversees medical device reviews - have received calls since Friday saying they could return to work on Monday, according to eight FDA sources who spoke under condition of anonymity.
Some of the sources were told the FDA would continue making requests to return throughout the weekend. If the scientists agree to return, they would represent less than one-third of the staffers dismissed about a week ago. The White House told Reuters the administration had fired over 1,000 FDA staffers.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-fda-asks-fired-scientists-return-including-some-reviewing-musks-neuralink-2025-02-22/
= new reply since forum marked as read
if you don't approve Musk's Neuralink ASAP.
