Job cuts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driven by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have disproportionately impacted staff responsible for assessing self-driving vehicle safety.
As per a
Financial Times report, of the approximately 30 employees dismissed in February 2025, many were from the office of vehicle automation safety. The layoffs are part of a broader Musk-led initiative that has resulted in over 20,000 federal job losses and sparked concerns about conflicts of interest, as several affected agencies regulate or work with Musk’s companies.
The NHTSA currently has eight ongoing investigations into Tesla and has received over 10,000 public complaints about the company’s vehicles. The agency had also ordered dozens of Tesla recalls and delayed the rollout of the group’s self-driving and driver-assistance software.
This move comes amid Musk’s pledge to launch a driverless ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas, this June, with plans to begin building a fleet of autonomous “cybercabs” by 2026.
