Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Neuralink submitted false SDB certifications across 11 federal filings since 2017 — Neuralink has repeatedly claimed small disadvantaged business status in all 11 of its filings on SAM.gov, the federal government's contracting database, since 2017. Many filings were signed by Jared Birchall, Musk's chief of staff and Neuralink's CEO, who attested under penalty of criminal prosecution and civil liability under the False Claims Act that the company's representations were accurate. The SDB designation remains visible on Neuralink's main SAM.gov profile page. In three separate filings (September 2020, May 2021, August 2021), Neuralink responded affirmatively to questions about seeking federal financial assistance, grants, or loans while maintaining the false SDB certification.
• Musk directed federal DEI program cuts while Neuralink claimed diversity program benefits — While leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk directed the termination of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and purged federal DEI grants and contracts for minority-owned businesses, including legitimate small disadvantaged businesses. Simultaneously, Neuralink—Musk's company—falsely claimed SDB status to access the same federal diversity programs Musk was publicly attacking and dismantling. Musk has stated that "DEI is just another word for racism" and described it as "actually illegal," while his company exploited the SDB designation for potential federal contracting advantages.