America’s ‘AI dominance’ mission will mean big staff reductions for the AI Safety Institute

The US government established the AI Safety Institute (AISI) in 2024 as part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to oversee AI model testing and safety regulations. In early 2025, the Trump administration began dismantling various AI regulatory frameworks put in place by the previous administration.

Latest developments: The US AI Safety Institute faces imminent staff reductions that threaten to severely diminish its operational capacity.

• According to Axios reporting, NIST is preparing for 497 role eliminations, primarily targeting probationary employees
• The cuts will affect both AI safety oversight and semiconductor production initiatives
• AISI Director Elizabeth Kelly recently stepped down, reportedly due to political pressure

Scope of impact: The planned staff reductions extend beyond AI safety to affect critical technology infrastructure programs.

• The cuts target 74 postdoctoral positions
• 57% of staff working on CHIPS incentives programs face elimination
• 67% of semiconductor R&D personnel will be affected, effectively dismantling most of the CHIPS for America initiative

International implications: Recent actions suggest a shift in US priorities regarding global AI governance and safety.

• AISI staff were notably excluded from the US delegation at the recent AI Action Summit in Paris
• The summit focused heavily on international cooperation for AI safety and security measures
• These moves signal a departure from multilateral approaches to AI governance

Policy shift analysis: The staff reductions align with the administration’s stated goal of pursuing “AI dominance” over safety regulations.

• The cuts appear to contradict the administration’s emphasis on competing with China in AI development
• The dismantling of semiconductor initiatives particularly stands at odds with stated national security objectives
• These changes represent a significant departure from the regulatory framework established under the Biden administration

Strategic contradictions: The simultaneous reduction in AI safety oversight and semiconductor development capacity raises questions about the coherence of the administration’s technology strategy.

• The cuts to CHIPS Act implementation could hinder domestic semiconductor production goals
• Reducing AI safety oversight while pursuing rapid AI development may create increased risks
• The moves appear to prioritize short-term deregulation over long-term strategic technology development