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The Pentagon is downsizing its Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), the very team tasked with ensuring the safety and efficacy of new weapons systems, including those powered by artificial intelligence. This reduction in force has ignited concerns about potentially deploying unsafe or unreliable AI-driven technologies. DOT&E functions as a crucial independent auditor, verifying claims made by defense contractors. The timing of these cuts is particularly unsettling, given the Department of Defense’s accelerating experimentation with AI across diverse applications and the surge in lucrative AI system contracts awarded to defense firms. Experts fear that a diminished DOT&E will lead to the rapid deployment of novel technologies without sufficient safety assessments. While proponents argue the cuts may streamline the adoption process, the office’s track record of uncovering critical errors raises serious questions. The military’s increasing reliance on AI, especially large language models known for their error-prone nature, underscores the need for robust testing. The dedicated team evaluating the accuracy and reliability of these systems has now been reduced to half its former size, fueling worries about the potential risks of unchecked AI deployment.