Musk-led cuts affect autonomous safety team, raising conflict of interest concerns

A critical team overseeing autonomous vehicle safety at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is being cut nearly in half due to budget reductions led by the Musk-headed US Doge Service (DOGE). The move raises concerns about regulatory oversight just as Tesla, one of Musk’s companies, accelerates its push for full self-driving vehicles.

The cuts, part of a broader 10% reduction in NHTSA’s workforce, will see the loss of 70 to 80 employees, including three of seven specialists dedicated to autonomous vehicle safety. Critics argue that the decision significantly weakens the federal government’s ability to scrutinize Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving technologies, as well as similar systems from other companies like Waymo and Zoox.

“If the question is, will this affect the federal government’s ability to understand the safety case behind Tesla’s vehicles, then yes, it will,” said a terminated engineer. “Now, that expertise is almost nonexistent.”

The move highlights a glaring conflict of interest: Musk, a key figure in the Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts, also leads Tesla, a company directly regulated by the agency facing staffing reductions. NHTSA’s past investigations into Tesla’s driver assistance technologies have already led to recalls, including a 2023 order affecting two million vehicles. With fewer experts left to monitor autonomous vehicle safety, critics fear that regulatory gaps will widen at a time when self-driving technology is becoming more widespread.

Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Ed Markey, have demanded answers from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on the scale of the job cuts and their implications. However, Duffy and DOGE officials have defended the reductions, arguing they are necessary for efficiency without compromising safety.

Musk and Trump recently stated in a joint interview that Musk would not be involved in regulatory matters affecting his business interests. However, recent actions bring that statement into question. Interestingly, Tesla’s stock surged following Trump’s election, reflecting investor confidence that Musk’s influence would benefit the company.