U.S. President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk have dismissed fewer than 50 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Department of Energy confirmed Sunday. The agency oversees the country's nuclear weapons and global non-proliferation efforts.
Initially, 325 workers received layoff notices on Friday, sparking confusion within NNSA offices across the U.S. However, many of those layoffs were quickly rescinded, leaving employees uncertain about their job status. The affected employees were primarily administrative and clerical probationary staff.
The NNSA assured that national security operations, including atomic weapons management and non-proliferation efforts, would continue without disruption.
These cuts are part of a broader federal workforce reduction led by Trump and Musk, impacting thousands of employees across multiple departments, including Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services.
NNSA managers were initially instructed on Thursday to notify employees of their termination, only to receive an abrupt halt order on Friday, demanding re-justification for certain positions. This sudden reversal caused significant disruption, diverting attention from critical national security tasks.
Democratic lawmakers condemned the firings as "shocking," expressing concern over potential national security risks. Senator Patty Murray and Representative Marcy Kaptur emphasized the urgent need for a briefing to assess the impact of these sudden and unplanned dismissals.
The NNSA layoffs highlight the volatility within the federal workforce under Trump's administration and Musk's advisory role, raising concerns about the stability of critical government functions.