Donald Trump’s administration is scrambling to rehire workers after reportedly firing over 300 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) without realizing they oversee the U.S. nuclear stockpile. The mass firings were part of Trump’s executive order aimed at “shrinking the federal workforce,” but officials now acknowledge a major oversight.
The Department of Energy, which oversees the NNSA, has disputed the number, claiming fewer than 50 employees were dismissed, mostly in administrative roles. However, congressional officials are alarmed, with one source stating, “The nuclear deterrent is the backbone of American security… any disruption to its maintenance should be extremely frightening.”
In an attempt to fix the mistake, an internal email obtained by NBC News revealed that the government is struggling to contact the fired employees. The message urged supervisors to reach out to former workers via personal emails, admitting there is “no good way” to reach them otherwise. Some workers have agreed to return but are already planning to leave once they find new jobs.
The mishap has raised concerns about the administration’s approach to workforce reductions and national security. As Trump continues pushing for government downsizing, critics argue that these cuts could have serious unintended consequences.
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