Is Elon Musk already abusing the power given from Trump for personal gain? Well, maybe!
Every state across the nation, from Republican-led Texas to the staunchly Democratic-led states of California and New York on the west and east coasts, will experience the effects of the Donald Trump administration’s efforts to reduce government costs. Tasked to slash the number of federal workers and hopefully lower the national debt, Elon Musk, appointed to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has become a target to millions of Americans as millions question his role in the Trump administration.
According to a recently surfaced report, Elon Musk might be abusing his power given by President Trump himself. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly terminated several FDA employees tasked with overseeing the clinical trials for Elon Musk’s Neuralink, sparking concerns about the potential impacts on public health and technological innovation. Under the Trump administration, this measure is a part of a larger workforce reduction among several health departments meant to lower government health costs.
Part of the FDA’s office of neurological and physical medicine devices, the dismissed individuals were important for the authorization process of medical devices like those created by Neuralink. Sources familiar with the subject revealed to Reuters that over the weekend, about 20 FDA staff members were impacted; it remains unclear whether those working specifically on Neuralink were targeted.
Along with major layoffs at other health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this recent purge included almost 5,200 jobs. Insiders claim that many of those fired were probationary workers lacking some legal protections and with less than two years of experience. Despite recent favorable performance reports, dismissal letters apparently mentioned performance problems.
Industry professionals voice serious concerns about these firings potentially compromising the safety and efficacy of new drugs and medical innovations. Fears expressed in a joint statement by a coalition of patient organizations—including the American Diabetes Association and the Friends of Cancer Research—highlighted how these changes would “put our global leadership and our nation’s health at risk.”
For Neuralink, which had lately advanced in its clinical trials, the firings coincide with a critical period. Following its first human trial in May 2023, the FDA green-lit Neuralink; since then, the company has been implanting devices into patients. These technologies symbolize major breakthroughs in medical technology since they seek to let paralyzed people control computers through thought alone.
The wider consequences of the DOGE’s activities mirror Elon Musk’s influence on government decision-making, especially with relation to federal employment policies. Like past corporate policies of Musk, major layoffs have been recommended in several government agencies. Critics argue that these cuts could eventually cost more, especially in the FDA where over half of its revenue comes from user fees paid by businesses looking for fast-tracked product approvals.
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Regarding the financial gains of such cuts, health and legal professionals are skeptical. Former Deputy General Counsel of HHS Patti Zettler, currently a law professor, noted that many of the roles are supported by user fees rather than taxpayer money, making the purported savings from these layoffs negligible.
It remains to be seen if Elon Musk would use his power in the recently formed administration to directly impact and support his private businesses.
