Elon Musk's Agency Developing AI Tool to Automate Federal Worker Layoffs

The Department of Government Efficiency is reportedly modifying a Department of Defense program to accelerate workforce reductions, raising concerns over accuracy and fairness.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is working on automating federal workforce reductions using AI-based software called AutoRIF.
AutoRIF, originally developed by the Department of Defense, ranks employees for termination and has been accessed and modified by DOGE engineers, including former Tesla employee Riccardo Biasini.
The first round of manual layoffs earlier this month resulted in 95,000 job cuts, with some essential employees mistakenly terminated and later rehired, including nuclear stockpile overseers and bird flu outbreak responders.
Concerns have emerged that using AI could exacerbate errors, as DOGE prepares for a second wave of firings that may target employees with civil service protections.
Reports indicate that DOGE's modifications to AutoRIF may eliminate manual review processes, further fueling fears among federal employees about the tool’s potential consequences.