An executive order to’remake America’s federal workforce’ was approved by the US president.
According to reports, Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel optimization program is reversing course and rushing to reinstate employees who were in charge of the US nuclear arsenal.
Despite his best efforts, US President Trump’s executive order to “reform the federal workforce to better serve Americans” isn’t quite having the desired effect. Officials allegedly dismissed several employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) without knowing they “oversee the nuclear stockpile.”
According to a White House fact sheet published online on February 11, Trump’s administration intends to “reform the federal workforce to better serve Americans.”
The executive order cites engaging with DOGE to “shrink the size of the federal workforce and limit hiring to essential positions”—”significantly reducing the size of the government”—as one method of “making the federal workforce more efficient and effective.”
In fact, Reuters reported on February 14 that two sources verified that over 300 employees were let go from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), with notices of termination allegedly issued on February 13.
The number is much lower, according to an Energy Department spokeswoman who told CNN that “less than 50 people” were fired and that they “held primarily administrative and clerical roles.”
Congress was “freaking out because it appears DOE didn’t really realize NNSA oversees the nuclear stockpile,” according to another person who spoke to the site.
“Unquestionably, the foundation of American security and stability is the nuclear deterrent. It should be highly terrifying for individuals to see even tiny holes being made in the deterrent’s upkeep,” they continued.
Regardless of how many were let go, officials are obviously now aware of their error in firing even some employees who assist in overseeing the US nuclear weapons fleet, as evidenced by their frantic attempts to fire them again, according to an email obtained by NBC News that showed they were having trouble getting in touch with the employees.
“The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel,” the email purportedly says, addressed to NNSA employees.
“Please work with your supervisors to send this information (once you get it) to people’s personal contact emails.”
Additionally, a NNSA nuclear safety specialist who was fired on Thursday told NBC News that although her manager had contacted her to let her know the termination letter had been “rescinded,” she was still unable to access her emails.
She has stated that she will return, but she also states that she will be departing “as soon as [she] find[s] another role.”