The Trump administration has backtracked on its decision to fire several employees responsible for overseeing the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which manages the nation’s nuclear weapons, is now attempting to reinstate some workers who were abruptly dismissed as part of federal cost-cutting measures.
However, officials are struggling to reach them due to missing contact information.
On Thursday, multiple probationary employees at the NNSA were unexpectedly let go.
The termination notices were issued with little warning, leaving many workers locked out of their government email accounts and uncertain about their employment status.
Some employees learned of their dismissal only after being unable to log in to work systems.
In an internal email obtained by NBC News, NNSA officials admitted their difficulty in reaching the fired 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“The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel,” the email stated.
Supervisors were asked to help pass along the information to affected individuals via personal email addresses.
The NNSA plays a crucial role in maintaining the safety and reliability of U.S. nuclear weapons. It oversees major facilities such as:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (California) – Ensures warhead reliability
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (New Mexico) – Handles nuclear research
- Pantex Plant (Texas) – Conducts weapon assembly and disassembly
- Y-12 National Security Complex (Tennessee) – Produces enriched uranium components
With a $25 billion annual budget, the agency is responsible for a massive weapon modernization program.
According to a congressional budget office report, the U.S. is projected to spend approximately $756 billion on nuclear forces between 2023 and 2032.
The Department of Energy, which oversees the NNSA, initially laid off employees in administrative and clerical roles.
However, after recognizing the critical need for some of these workers, the agency has begun efforts to reinstate them.
A spokesperson for the Energy Department disputed claims of widespread firings, stating that “less than 50 people” had been affected.
One former employee, a nuclear safety specialist, revealed that she had been informed by her manager that her termination was reversed and that she should report back to work.
However, she remains locked out of her email and awaits official instructions.
The sudden layoffs come at a time of heightened global nuclear tensions. The Biden administration’s 2022 nuclear posture review emphasized the U.S. nuclear arsenal’s role in deterring adversaries, including Russia, China, and North Korea.
Last week, former President Trump commented on nuclear disarmament, stating that he hopes for a reduction in nuclear weapons but acknowledging the ongoing arms buildup.
“There’s no reason for us to be building brand-new nuclear weapons. We already have so many,” Trump said. “You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons.”
Despite these remarks, the U.S. continues to invest heavily in nuclear modernization, further complicating the debate over budget cuts and national security priorities.
The NNSA’s struggle to reverse course on these layoffs highlights the challenges of rapid cost-cutting measures in federal agencies.
As the agency scrambles to contact dismissed workers, questions remain about the long-term stability of the workforce overseeing the country’s nuclear arsenal.
For now, affected employees are urged to check with their supervisors and update their contact details to ensure they receive reinstatement notifications.