Trump Administration Reverses Federal Nuclear Program Layoffs, Sparks Controversy

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has reversed its decision to fire a significant number of federal employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), igniting concerns among workers and experts regarding the future of the nation’s nuclear programs. The abrupt layoffs, which affected nearly 350 employees, were executed Thursday, leaving many without notice or access to their work.

Among the hardest hit was the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, where approximately 30% of the cuts were made. Employees at Pantex are involved in reassembling nuclear warheads, a task that demands the highest security clearance due to its sensitive nature.

Sources within the NNSA, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, revealed that many workers discovered their terminations only when they found themselves locked out of their offices Friday morning, having lost access to email notifications about their job status.

The firings were part of a broader initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which aimed to reduce the federal workforce by about 2,000 employees across the Department of Energy. Critics of the DOGE team, including Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, argue that the decision-makers lack fundamental understanding of the complexities involved in the nuclear programs.

“The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” Kimball stated. “They don’t seem to realize that it’s actually the department of nuclear weapons more than it is the Department of Energy.”

By late Friday evening, the agency’s acting director, Teresa Robbins, issued a memo rescinding the firings for all but 28 of those affected. The memo clarified, “This letter serves as formal notification that the termination decision issued to you on Feb. 13, 2025, has been rescinded, effective immediately.”

Contradicting the accounts of those involved, the Department of Energy later released a statement claiming that fewer than 50 staff members were let go, characterizing them as “probationary employees” in mainly administrative roles.

The firings not only caused internal unrest but also prompted a wider conversation about national security. Rob Plonski, a deputy division director at NNSA, shared his concern on LinkedIn, stating, “This is a pivotal moment. We must decide whether we are truly committed to leading on the world stage or if we are content with undermining the very systems that secure our nation’s future.”

While some terminated employees focused on energy efficiency and climate change concerns, the majority were engaged in critical nuclear-related functions. They managed radioactive waste at sites including Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina, the Hanford Nuclear Site in Washington state, and the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee, among others.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington condemned the firings as “utterly callous and dangerous,” expressing worry over the ramifications for public safety.

The reinstated employees are now grappling with uncertainty over their roles, as many had dedicated their careers to nuclear programs. This comes as NNSA is amid a massive $750 billion modernization effort, which includes redesigning intercontinental ballistic missiles and new stealth bombers. The recent cuts have also sparked concern over the loss of institutional knowledge due to a notable wave of retirements in recent years.

Experts warn that the layoffs could disrupt the agency’s functioning and undermine U.S. nuclear stability internationally. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, pointed out that the firings send dangerous signals to international adversaries. “I think the signal to U.S. adversaries is pretty clear: throw a monkey wrench in the whole national security apparatus and cause disarray,” he said.