DOGE cuts nearly half of unit overseeing autonomous vehicles safety, report says

Elon Musk speaks next to U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 11, 2025.

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency has cut three out of roughly seven people in a U.S. auto safety agency unit overseeing the safety of autonomous vehicles, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The workers fired by the agency headed by the Tesla CEO said they do not believe they were targeted because they are examining driverless cars, the newspaper reported.

The autonomous vehicles safety unit cuts are part of reductions at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is losing about 10% of its workforce through firings and buyout offers, according to the Washington Post.

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