The Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Expertise might hearth as many as 500 staffers, in accordance with a number of studies — cuts that additional threaten a fledgling AI security group.

Axios reported this week that the US AI Security Institute (AISI) and Chips for America, each a part of NIST, could be “gutted” by layoffs focusing on probationary staff (who’re sometimes of their first 12 months or two on the job). And Bloomberg said a few of these staff had already been given verbal discover of upcoming terminations.

Even earlier than the most recent layoff studies, AISI’s future was looking uncertain. The institute, which is meant to review dangers and develop requirements round AI improvement, was created final 12 months as a part of then-President Joe Biden’s executive order on AI safety. President Donald Trump repealed that order on his first day again in workplace, and AISI’s director departed earlier in February.

Fortune spoke to a number of AI safety and policy organizations who all criticized the reported layoffs.

“These cuts, if confirmed, would severely impression the federal government’s capability to analysis and tackle vital AI security issues at a time when such experience is extra very important than ever,” stated Jason Inexperienced-Lowe, government director of the Middle for AI Coverage.