Musk's brain chips create a whirlwind and open an investigation of abuses

Two sources familiar with the matter said the Agriculture Department's inspector general launched the federal investigation, which has not been previously reported, in the past few months at the request of a federal prosecutor.

One of the sources said the investigation focused on violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which governs how researchers treat and experiment with animals.

The investigation came at a time of growing opposition by Neuralink employees to its animal testing, including complaints that pressure from CEO Musk to accelerate research had led to failed experiments, according to a Reuters review of dozens of company documents and interviews with more than 20 employees. currently and previously.

Staff say that failed experiments have led to them being repeated, increasing the number of animals being tested and subsequently killed. The company documents include previously undisclosed letters, audio recordings, emails, presentations and reports.

Musk and other Neuralink executives did not respond to requests for comment.

A spokesman for the USDA Inspector General declined to comment.

US regulations do not limit the number of animals companies can use for research, leaving scientists free to decide when and how to use animals in experiments.

Neuralink has passed all USDA inspections of its facilities, as demonstrated by its regulatory disclosures.

In all, the company has killed about 1500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, after experiments since 2018, according to records reviewed by Reuters and sources with direct knowledge of the company's animal experiments.

The sources described this number as a rough estimate because the company does not keep logs Minutes on the number of animals you test before killing them. Neuralink has also tested mice.

Many companies routinely use animals in experiments to advance human health care and are facing financial pressure to bring products to market quickly. Animals are usually killed when experiments are completed, and are often subjected to post-kill necropsies for research purposes as well.

Musk caused a major uproar after his decision to buy Twitter in a huge $44 billion deal, as he reversed the decision and entered into a legal battle with the social media giant before moving forward with the deal, laying off many of its employees, and imposing fees on the blue verification mark to raise concern. regarding the company's future