FDA Rehiring Furloughed Scientists Amid Neuralink Trial Controversy

The FDA is seeking to rehire some of the scientists recently fired amid pressure from Elon Musk, who has ties to Neuralink. The agency aims to bring back around 300 personnel after Trump's abrupt dismissals. The rehirings follow ongoing Neuralink trials, which the agency approved despite past safety concerns.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is actively reaching out to some scientists it laid off to consider returning to their roles, according to informed sources speaking to Reuters. Among those targeted for rehiring are staff involved with the review of Elon Musk's Neuralink, a company focused on brain implants.

The agency is preparing to reinstate roughly 300 employees following a series of layoffs in the Trump administration's effort to trim federal workforce numbers. These cuts affected staff across sectors, including those responsible for medical device reviews and public health and safety, straining critical operations.

Despite previous rejection due to safety concerns, the FDA has since greenlit Neuralink's clinical trials, which are currently in progress. The rehiring initiative hopes to restore agency efficiency and enhance medical technology review processes, underscoring the critical role that these experts play in ensuring safety and innovation.

(With inputs from agencies.)