US Highway Safety Agency Lays Off 4% of Workforce

February 24, 2025 TruthUSA

The agency has stated that it has ‘retained positions essential to the mission of saving lives, preventing injuries, and minimizing economic costs.’

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has laid off nearly 4 percent, or several dozen employees, from its workforce of 800, according to the agency’s announcement on Monday.

“The previous administration expanded NHTSA by an astounding 30 percent. Even with these modest efficiencies, NHTSA remains significantly larger than it was four years ago,” a spokesperson relayed to The Epoch Times via email.

“We have kept positions that are crucial to our mission of saving lives, preventing injuries, and curbing economic costs associated with road traffic accidents. Our commitment to enforce the law on all motor vehicle and equipment manufacturers will continue in alignment with the Vehicle Safety Act and our data-driven, risk-based investigative approach.”

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has partnered with federal agencies since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January to increase government efficiency, partially by eliminating jobs viewed as non-essential.

The U.S. Transportation Department has also initiated further reductions, including the layoff of approximately 350 staff members from the around 45,000-strong Federal Aviation Administration workforce.

As of Monday, officials within the Transportation Department, which encompasses the NHTSA, instructed employees to reply to an email from the Office of Personnel Management, requesting them to submit a list of their recent accomplishments by Monday night.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on Fox News regarding the email: “If you can’t list five accomplishments, perhaps you shouldn’t be working here; it’s a straightforward request.”

Musk has also indicated on X that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation, and that employees displaying exemplary responses might receive promotions.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) criticized NHTSA’s downsizing on several occasions via X, accusing Musk of “dismissing and undermining the agencies accountable for safety, particularly concerning his controversial self-driving technology.”

In 2024, NHTSA initiated an investigation into Tesla’s self-driving technology following a tragic incident where one of its vehicles struck a pedestrian, resulting in death. The agency also started a probe into Tesla’s actions regarding a previous inquiry into its Autopilot system, which NHTSA had previously identified as defective. Tesla has asserted that it is making updates to enhance the system that assists drivers with steering.

When previously questioned about Musk, who also oversees the electric vehicle company Tesla, Trump informed reporters he would prevent conflicts of interest. Musk has also stated he would recuse himself if a conflict arose.

Tesla has not yet replied to a request for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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