Musk's cost-cutting DOGE lays off workers at agency that oversees Tesla Inc.

San Antonio Express News ^ | 02/22/2025 | By Staff and Wire Reports

[Responsibility2nd]

Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team is eliminating jobs at the vehicle safety agency that oversees his Tesla Inc., regulates the autonomous vehicles he says represents its future and has launched investigations into deadly crashes involving the Texas-based company’s cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has cut a “modest” amount of positions at the agency, which is tasked with ensuring safety on U.S. roads, it said in a statement Saturday.

The loss of three of the seven members of the specialized unit overseeing autonomous vehicles is part of a 10% overall workforce reduction at the agency enacted by Musk’s advisory group on shrinking the federal government, the Department of Government Efficiency.

The losses touch on many aspects of the safety administration’s work, the Washington Post reported: an engineer who worked with crash test dummies, employees who work with states on safety grant funding and a research psychologist focused on drunken driving and speeding.

The Tesla CEO has accused the agency of holding back progress on self-driving technology with its investigations into crashes and recalls of vehicles.

Asked whether the cuts would impact any probes into Tesla, the agency referred to its statement, which says it will “enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment.” On Friday, Tesla recalled more than 375,000 vehicles due to a power steering issue. The safety administration said a circuit board may become overstressed, causing a loss of steering assist after a stop.

In addition to investigations into Tesla’s partially automated vehicles, the agency has mandated that Tesla and other automakers using self-driving technology report crash data on vehicles, a requirement that Tesla has criticized and that watchdogs fear could be eliminated by the Trump administration.

The staff reductions at the agency have come through a combination of firings, buyouts and layoffs. It noted in its statement that the Biden administration had expanded its payroll, suggesting the smaller staff was sufficient to carry out its mission.

“Even with these modest efficiencies, NHTSA is still considerably larger today than it was four years ago,” the statement said. “We have retained positions critical to the mission of saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing economic costs due to road traffic crashes.”

Tesla is based in Austin, where it operates a factory that builds the company’s Cybertruck, Model Y and is developing battery technology.

[Responsibility2nd]

This article insinuates Musk is setting up special protections for Tesla.

When in fact the NHTS is yet another bloated agency needing a chainsaw.

[P-Marlowe]

Oh the huge manatee.

[Salvavida]

What clause in the US Constitution makes this a federal issue? Regulating autos is a state issue.

[Jim Robinson]

Unsafe at any speed.

[power2]

I get so tired of the ministry of propaganda putting out that DOGE is doing any hiring or firing. They review, make suggestions. Actual reductions are accomplished by the applicable departments. Idiots.

[asinclair]

What clause in the US Constitution makes this a federal issue? Regulating autos is a state issue.

Interstate Commerce clause. In tandem with State regulation. The States are responsible for registration and licensing vehicles. The Feds are responsible for vehicle issues that affect multiple states in parallel.

As for "conflict of interest" by Musk, as long as the agency cuts are made across the board and not directed solely at the division that investigates car crashes, collects statistics, and such, I don't see any conflict. (But am willing to be disabused of incorrect notions.)

[Red6]

Once the darling of liberal America, now that he is full MAGA, Musk has lost that shine in the MSM.

Like Biden could do no wrong and Trump now can do no right, so will Musk reap the wrath of the our leftist MSM.

[Yossarian]

There are indeed areas where there will be conflict of interest. This is especially true when you consider all the areas where Musk’s myriad business interests intersect with government money or oversight.

There needs to be a way to have someone other than Musk run DOGE for such areas.

(I like DOGE and want to see it succeed, but I don’t trust The Elon one bit. Even if he’s well intentioned- which I don’t think is always the case - he has huge blind spots. Besides, NO ONE should be 100% trusted. )

[grumpygresh]

So what. He also went after IRS. Last I checked, he paid taxes. So now that’s a COI and he can’t do that?

[wildcard_redneck]

Another Bush Crime Family fan complains about maga.

[Thank You Rush]

“”research psychologist focused on drunken driving and speeding.””

WOW - good idea! Has it helped?

[Theoria]

Exactly, thats why its surreal in many ways. Elon doesn't work for government, he isn't a federal employee. Anything he says or tweets shouldn't be accepted as gospel. He might ‘advise’ but he has no firing abilities, nor hiring abilities.

His ‘position’ also prevents FOIA requests and other information that would reveal if their is business conflicts and other absurdities.

[GOPJ]

When we see how much democrats and the sexual weirdo community are taking and throwing away on their pet project - we know Musk needs to cut deeper...

[bigbob]

As in private industry, when cutbacks have to be made, those left will have to work harder and do more. Zero Effs Given.

[Vision]

But they didn’t mention thousands of charging stations are being removed in DC.

[Yossarian]

Another Bush Crime Family fan complains about maga.

Ah, another laughably wrong and over-the-top post from “Wildcard Redneck”

It’s good though - this way everyone knows your account hasn’t been hacked!

[wildcard_redneck]

Just more of the usual lefty agitation from the boomer brigade.

[gw-ington]

I get so tired of the ministry of propaganda putting out that DOGE is doing any hiring or firing. They review, make suggestions. Actual reductions are accomplished by the applicable departments. Idiots.

True. Musk's DOGE team uncovering lots of U.S. government fraud, wasteful spending, abuse and corruption. Trump's department heads review the info and fire unneeded government employees. Democrats/MSM response: "You evil Fascist crypto-Nazi Republicans!!!"

Some employees/investors in Musk's companies have complained to far-left media that Musk spends all his time investigating government wasteful spending while ignoring his own companies. None of those employees/investors want to be named by MSM reporters who are thrilled to run those stories with titles such as, "Ongoing Chaos in Musk World!" OTOH, Musk takes a lot of pressure off Trump and Vance because half the time, the far-left MSM is bashing Musk and his companies. Democrats are even doing mass protests at SpaceX locations & Tesla auto showrooms, holding up protest signs while screaming and cursing at Tesla customers. One cybertruck owner tweeted that in one day, "seven" people gave him the finger while he was driving. I guess those seven people are far-left "compassionate" Democrats demonstrating their "Joy!" My how the turntables ...

[DouglasKC]

Seven people monitor ONE aspect of Tesla...autonoumous operation. SEVEN.

[kvanbrunt2]

article 29 of the US constitution specifically says that the government should regulate the automobile business so that no one can afford a car.