The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly laid off around 30 employees from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with many being experts in autonomous vehicle safety. This restructuring has ignited concerns that the agency’s ability to evaluate self-driving technology may be significantly weakened. Former employees from NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Automation Safety expressed that the layoffs could hinder the progress of autonomous vehicle development at companies like Tesla. DOGE's actions are part of a broader initiative that has seen over 20,000 federal employees terminated since January.