The US government is now attempting to rehire nuclear safety employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) who were abruptly terminated last Thursday. This move comes after growing concerns that their dismissal may pose a threat to national security. The NNSA is vital as it oversees the design, construction, and management of the US nuclear weapons arsenal.
Reports indicate that around 300 NNSA employees were affected by the layoffs, part of a larger strategy by President Donald Trump to trim the federal workforce. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Energy contested this number, claiming that "less than 50 people" were actually let go from the NNSA. Among those terminated were individuals stationed at key facilities responsible for weapon production, as noted by CNN.
In a bid to reverse the dismissals, the Trump administration has encountered difficulties contacting the fired employees, many of whom were locked out of their federal email accounts. An internal memo circulated among the NNSA staff on Friday acknowledged the situation, stating, "The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel."
With efforts ongoing to relay rehiring information to the affected employees, supervisors have been instructed to reach out to personal email addresses. Last week, nearly 10,000 federal workers were laid off across various agencies, on top of about 75,000 who accepted voluntary exit offers from the White House.
The sweeping layoffs are part of Trump's initiative to cut federal spending, including radical proposals to eliminate entire departments, such as the education department. Business magnate Elon Musk is reportedly assisting in this endeavor through a project titled Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which aims to streamline federal services.
The dismissals have sparked concerns among many, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of workers. Furthermore, Trump's administration has faced multiple legal challenges, with over 60 lawsuits filed since his inauguration, reflecting growing resistance against his efforts to downsize the federal government.
