Approximately 500 NIST staffers, including at least three lab directors, are expected to lose their jobs at the safety-standards agency as part of the ongoing DOGE purge, sources tell WIRED.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is preparing for mass layoffs, with approximately 500 staffers, including lab directors, expected to lose their jobs as part of the Trump administration's 'DOGE purge.' The restructuring aims to align NIST with conservative principles and national security priorities. The AI Safety Institute (AISI), established under Biden's AI executive order, is particularly at risk, as the new administration has signaled a deprioritization of AI safety. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest, especially with Elon Musk, given NIST's role in setting standards that could affect his ventures, such as Neuralink. While some staff welcome the focus on national security, others fear the impact on AI safety efforts and the broader implications for NIST's mission.
