NHTSA Cuts Continue Troubling Pattern of DOGE Cuts at Agencies Investigating Musk’s Companies
Washington, DC — On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration job cuts instigated by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency disproportionately hit staffers assessing the risks of self-driving cars. NHTSA, the federal government’s primary automobile safety regulator, has opened multiple investigations into the safety of Tesla’s self-driving features, which have been implicated in multiple crashes and have been the subject of millions of recalled vehicles. Demand Progress Education Fund has previously spoken out against DOGE cuts at agencies that threaten Musk’s companies.
The following is a statement from Emily Peterson-Cassin, corporate power director at Demand Progress Education Fund:
“Elon Musk’s DOGE minions targeted the very people tasked with investigating whether Tesla’s untested self-driving cars are safe enough to be on our roads. This is a crystal clear conflict of interest that will help line Elon Musk’s pockets while making America’s roads more dangerous. The NHTSA cuts clearly fit into a troubling pattern of DOGE cuts at federal watchdogs that have challenged Musk’s companies. After the FCC, FAA and EPA went after SpaceX, they were hit with DOGE Cuts. After the CFPB gained the power to supervise payment apps like Musk’s forthcoming X Money, it was hit with DOGE cuts. Now the auto safety watchdog investigating fatal Tesla crashes has been hit with DOGE cuts.”