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The Trump Adminstration tried to walk back layoffs of federal workers who oversee nuclear weapons, and did not know how to contact some of them - February 14, 2025
Part of 2 threads: DOGELayoffs
Administration
Science, health, environment
Details
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) maintains the safety and preparedness of the US nuclear arsenal. New hires require a high level of security clearance, and trianing can take 18 months of longer.
The layoffs were part of a massive campaign by DOGE targeting probationary employees, which included individuals recently promoted to transferred. Supervisors were given 2 hours to appeal using only 2-3 sentences, but were promptly told all employees would be fired anyways.
After the government realized its mistake, it was unable to reach a number of employees and had to ask employees remaining at the NNSA to help contact those let go. It is unclear how many returned.
References
- How DOGE detonated a crisis at a highly sensitive nuclear weapons agency (washingtonpost.com)
- Dismissed nuclear bomb specialists recalled by Energy Department (fortune.com)
- Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say (cnn.com)
- Trump administration wants to un-fire nuclear safety workers but can’t figure out how to reach them (nbcnews.com)