The U.S. government is attempting to rehire nuclear safety employees it dismissed just days ago, after growing concerns that their sudden termination could pose a national security risk, according to U.S. media reports.
The affected workers, employed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), were among hundreds of Department of Energy employees who received termination letters on Thursday as part of a sweeping effort by President Donald Trump to reduce the federal workforce.
The NNSA plays a crucial role in designing, maintaining, and overseeing the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. Reports indicate that more than 300 NNSA employees were let go, though a Department of Energy spokesperson later disputed that figure, telling CNN that “less than 50” were dismissed.
Chaos Over Layoffs and Rehiring Effort
The abrupt terminations affected staff stationed at nuclear weapons facilities, raising concerns over security gaps at critical sites. According to media reports, the Trump administration is now struggling to reverse the layoffs, but has encountered difficulties contacting the dismissed employees—many of whom have already been locked out of their government email accounts.
An internal memo obtained by NBC News acknowledged the problem, stating:
“The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel.”
Supervisors were asked to use personal contact emails to reach affected staff.
The disarray follows a broader effort by Trump to drastically cut government spending. Last week, nearly 10,000 federal employees were fired across multiple agencies, on top of an estimated 75,000 workers who had previously accepted a voluntary departure offer from the White House.
Trump’s Workforce Reduction Plan
Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cost-cutting measures, which have included proposals to eliminate entire departments, including the Department of Education. The government’s restructuring is being aided by billionaire Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) initiative has reportedly helped identify redundancies and implement federal buyout programs.
As part of the cost-cutting drive, the administration recently ordered agencies to fire nearly all probationary employees—those who have been in their positions for less than a year and have yet to gain job protections. This directive led to the dismissals at the NNSA, raising alarm over potential risks to nuclear security.
Legal Challenges and Backlash
The mass firings have sparked widespread legal challenges. More than 60 lawsuits have been filed against the administration since Trump’s January 20 inauguration, with government unions and advocacy groups pushing back against the layoffs.
Critics argue that the abrupt dismissals—especially in sensitive security sectors—have been poorly planned and could jeopardize national safety. Some lawmakers have already signaled plans to investigate the administration’s handling of the firings.
As the White House scrambles to reconnect with dismissed NNSA employees, questions remain over the long-term consequences of Trump’s sweeping federal workforce cuts—and whether similar reversals will follow in other critical government sectors.
