**WASHINGTON** – In a surprising reversal, the Trump administration has stopped the layoffs of hundreds of federal employees involved in the nation’s nuclear weapons programs, creating confusion among staff and raising concerns among experts who warn that indiscriminate cost-cutting may jeopardize community safety.
Officials revealed that late Thursday, around 350 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were abruptly terminated. Some employees lost email access before receiving any notification and discovered their offices locked upon arrival the following morning.
The Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, experienced significant impacts, with roughly 30% of its workforce affected. Workers at this facility handle the reassembly of warheads, a highly sensitive role requiring top-level security clearance.
These layoffs were part of a broader push within the Department of Energy to eliminate around 2,000 positions, with the NNSA cuts representing a significant portion of that figure.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, criticized the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency, stating, “The newcomers lack a fundamental understanding of the vital responsibilities of these departments.”
By Friday night, the acting director of the NNSA, Teresa Robbins, issued a memo reinstating nearly all affected employees except for 28. In her memo, she formally rescinded the termination notices.
The Department of Energy claimed that the number of terminations was under 50, characterizing the released staff as “probationary” employees in administrative positions, a statement contradicted by accounts from officials within the agency.
This situation prompted a senior NNSA staffer to urge immediate action. “We must evaluate our commitment to global leadership versus the risk of undermining the systems that guarantee our nation’s security,” he stated, highlighting the potential recklessness of downsizing essential federal positions.
While some of those laid off were focused on energy efficiency and climate change initiatives, many dealt directly with critical nuclear issues, including radioactive waste management and contamination prevention around major sites like the Savannah River National Laboratory and the Hanford Nuclear Site.
Concerns were voiced by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, who labeled the layoffs “utterly callous and dangerous.”
As some NNSA staff reconsider returning amid the uncertainty fostered by the recent cuts, the agency faces a wave of retirements, leading to a considerable loss of institutional knowledge in recent years. Currently, the NNSA is undertaking a significant $750 billion modernization effort for the nuclear arsenal, including new missile systems and stealth bombers.
Experts have warned that these layoffs could undermine the stability of the nuclear program and send negative signals internationally. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, noted, “This creates disarray in our national security framework, potentially aiding adversaries.”
