NHTSA Workforce to Shrink 28% After Early-Retirement Offer

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to lose more than one-quarter of its workforce after employees accepted early-retirement incentives offered under a Trump-era program, according to data supplied to Congress and reviewed by Reuters. The exodus will cut the U.S. auto-safety regulator’s staff to roughly 555 from 772 as of May 31, a reduction of about 28%. Similar voluntary-separation packages have been circulated at the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The staffing contraction comes as NHTSA tells automakers it is reconsidering federal fuel-economy standards. Lawmakers have voiced concern that the smaller workforce could hinder the agency’s ability to pursue vehicle-safety initiatives and enforce regulatory compliance.