The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will lose between 70 and 80 people, split roughly evenly between firings of probationary employees and buyouts, according to people briefed on the staff cuts.

Elon Musk's chainsaw has been swinging through the federal government over the last few weeks, with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chopping down budgets and excising staff at a number of agencies.

The Tesla CEO has said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is slowing progress on autonomous vehicles.