Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team has led to job reductions at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency responsible for overseeing vehicle safety, including investigations into fatal crashes involving Tesla vehicles. According to a statement from NHTSA, the cuts were “modest.” Musk has previously accused NHTSA of impeding the advancement of self-driving technology with its ongoing investigations and recalls.
When asked whether the job cuts would impact ongoing investigations into Tesla, NHTSA responded by emphasizing its commitment to enforcing the law for all vehicle manufacturers.
These cuts were initiated by Musk’s advisory group, the Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to reduce federal government size.
In addition to investigating Tesla’s semi-autonomous vehicles, NHTSA has required Tesla and other automakers to report crash data for vehicles equipped with self-driving technology. Tesla has criticized this requirement, and some watchdogs are concerned that it could be eliminated due to the cost-cutting measures.
The staff reductions at NHTSA have occurred through a mix of layoffs, buyouts, and firings. The agency pointed out in its statement that under the Biden administration, its workforce had grown, and the current smaller staff is now seen as adequate to fulfill its mission.
The statement emphasized that despite these “modest efficiencies,” NHTSA is still significantly larger than it was four years ago. It also reassured that key positions essential to the agency’s mission—such as those focused on saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing the economic impact of traffic crashes—have been preserved.
