🚨U.S. Nuclear Security in Peril as Trump Administration Slashes DOE Workforce, Temporary Reprieve Offered

The Trump administration, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has laid off approximately 1,200 to 2,000 Department of Energy (DOE) employees, including 325 from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which oversees the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

However, ABC News reports that the DOE has temporarily paused the layoffs following widespread concerns over national security risks, with NNSA managers frantically contacting employees to inform them that their terminations are on hold, restoring their access to federal systems and facilities—at least for now.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray warned that layoffs at critical sites like Washington’s Hanford nuclear facility jeopardize essential cleanup and safety operations. She condemned the move as reckless, stating, “Trying to run Hanford with a skeleton crew is a recipe for disaster that could have irreversible impacts.” In addition to the NNSA, the DOE’s Loan Programs Office, responsible for managing billions in clean energy and nuclear project loans, and national labs have also seen dismissals of hundreds of engineers, scientists, and cybersecurity experts.

The administration justifies these cuts as necessary to reduce the $36 trillion national debt, but critics highlight the dangers of compromising nuclear security amid global tensions, particularly with the ongoing threat to nuclear facilities like Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant during Russia’s invasion. The temporary pause offers brief relief, but NNSA staff remain in limbo, unsure of their future employment as legal challenges mount against the administration’s sweeping reductions.