In February, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, dismissed approximately 30 employees from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the majority of whom were specialists in assessing the risks associated with autonomous vehicles. The dismissed staff members voiced concerns that this action could undermine NHTSA's capability to comprehend and regulate autonomous driving technology. Currently, Tesla is facing several investigations by NHTSA over its autonomous driving features, with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot systems reporting the highest number of road accidents.
