Update: We broke this news over the weekend from a lucky catch on Reddit, but the Washington Post and TechCrunch are expanding on it, citing anonymous sources. They report that 10% of the NHTSA employees have been cut, which would be about 80 staffers, with especially heavy cuts for the employees in the new office responsible for autonomous driving safety. Original story to follow below! – Kay
So, it begins.
Here’s the quick summary:
- 40+ NHTSA employees were fired late Friday, February 14, amid ongoing OPM purges.
- All were probationary employees… meaning they were the easiest to fire under federal procedures.
- The first wave of fired NHTSA employees is speaking out about what happened.
Here’s the latest from r/FedNews:
Conflict(s) of Interest?
This large-scale firing leaves the NHTSA short-handed, which could delay multiple ongoing investigations into Tesla’s autonomous driving systems, among other safety concerns. While the timing alone raises eyebrows, the broader context makes makes us wonder out loud: what about conflicts of interest?
Just as a reminder, here’s the official White House stance from press secretary Karoline Leavitt:
“If Elon Musk comes across a conflict of interest with the contracts and the funding that DOGE is overseeing, then Elon will excuse himself from those contracts.”
In other words, it’s an honor system. GREAT. It must be working, because Elon hasn’t recused himself on the record yet.
That is definitely how government oversight is supposed to work. Hey, at least we still have a free press to hold truth to power, right?
What’s that? Ah. DOGE is shielded from FOIA requests by executive order. ALSO GREAT.
These NHTSA firings follow right on the heels of the Department of Transportation (DOT) inspector general getting fired by the President.
What Does the DOT Inspector General Actually Do?
The inspectors general of at least 17 agencies had their employment terminated in late January in a widespread purge, according to ABC News.
One of the dismissed auditors was the Department of Transportation inspector general.
Among other things, the DOT Inspector General contributed this audit improving NHTSA investigation methods. The results of a recent audit tell the tale:
“We made 12 recommendations to help NHTSA improve its risk-based processes for investigating and identifying potential motor vehicle and equipment safety defects.”
That sounds really, really important. I wouldn’t think that would be on the chopping block for spending cuts.
As DOGE is rapidly filling the enforcement and auditing roles assigned by federal law since 1978 to inspectors general, that does beg the question: is that a conflict of interest?
What About Tesla and the NHTSA?
There are a few reasons Tesla… and by extension, Elon Musk… might not be big fans of the NHTSA. It’s all about safety and autonomous driving technology:
- The Trump administration is considering scrapping a crash-reporting requirement that Tesla opposes. This requirement is key to tracking the 1,500+ Tesla crashes involving autonomous driving systems reported to federal regulators.
- Teslas are the most fatal cars on the road. That’s according to a study of FARS data, which is maintained by the NHTSA. If you were running a company with that kind of track record, you might also want less crash reporting.
- No fewer than 3 open NHTSA investigations (as of press time) relate to Tesla’s self-driving technology.
Remember, Elon said this in relation to Tesla’s continued growth as a company:
“We should be thought of as an AI robotics company. If you value Tesla as just an auto company… it’s just the wrong framework. If you ask the wrong question, then the right answer is impossible.”
If Tesla is not a car company but a software and automation company, then government investigations into that software and automation pose a particular threat.
So, there you have it. DOGE is in power, NHTSA is getting their tires slashed, and Tesla is dodging oversight at every turn. If only Tesla self-driving cars could dodge obstacles half as well!
Expect more coverage as this story develops… and be sure to subscribe if you want to stay ahead of the curve on automotive news.
