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Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) keeps firing AI researchers — and it’s making the tech industry increasingly nervous about the American AI talent pipeline.
On March 3, the long-rumored cuts to staff at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finally landed. Multiple sources reported that 73 probationary employees were fired, many of whom worked on the CHIPS for America initiative, as anticipated. The CHIPS Act aims to ramp up chip development in the US.
“We emphasize that NIST’s work represents a high-value investment that directly contributes to US economic growth,
competitiveness, and technological leadership,” the letter states. “We caution that downsizing NIST or eliminating
these initiatives will have ramifications for the ability of the American AI industry to continue to lead globally.”
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“Stakeholders across industry, academia, and civil society stand ready to work with you in shaping this vision, ensuring that the US remains at the forefront of technology advancements while maintaining safeguards against emerging threats,” they said.
That the letter reiterates the need for “safeguards” is notable. The Trump administration has deprioritized AI safety and responsibility on several fronts in the name of faster innovation. On Friday, Wired reported that NIST had issued new guidelines for scientists partnering with the US AI Safety Institute — the fate of which is still unclear — which now lack mentions of “AI safety,” “responsible AI,” and “AI fairness.”
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