The Trump Administration’s cost-cutting efforts have largely been overshadowed by a myriad of other controversies in recent weeks, but they’re ongoing and are still having an impact. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to lose 25 percent or more of its staff due to budget cuts as several employees take buyout offers.
The NHTSA’s workforce will fall to 555 employees, down from 772 as of the end of May, and the FHA and FTA are expected to lose a similar percentage of their staff. Cuts to the NHTSA come after the government agency reported growing by around 30 percent under the Biden administration.
Under Elon Musk’s guidance, the Trump Administration has seen more than a quarter-million resignations, early retirements, and firings, but while the public’s attention may be elsewhere, the process isn’t finished. Transportation Secretary Scott Duffy didn’t rule out further cuts, saying, “If we have bloat in certain areas, we’ll reduce force. We feel good where we’re at right now, but we’ll continue to assess where we’re at with our staffing needs.”
The NHTSA works to investigate safety issues and promote safe driving practices, but it also helps keep automakers in check. It also handles public communications and coordinates safety recalls, conducts research, and sets standards for new vehicles.
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