Media: Thousands of US Energy Department’s jobs at risk in potential workforce cuts

The US Energy Department has flagged thousands of federal positions as "nonessential" and at risk of being cut if large-scale workforce reductions proceed.

More than 8,500 jobs within the Energy Department and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is responsible for maintaining the country’s nuclear warheads, are at risk, Caliber.Az reports, citing a document obtained by The Associated Press.

These potential cuts align with President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at reducing the federal workforce. While it is uncertain whether every position identified as nonessential will be eliminated, federal agencies were instructed to identify roles for consolidation by March 13 as part of the planning process for possible "large scale reductions in force" set forth by Trump’s February 26 order.

Energy Department spokesperson Ben Dietderich confirmed that multiple plans were under consideration, but no final decisions had been made. Senator Patty Murray of Washington and Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio have raised concerns about the potential impact of these cuts, warning that reducing the department’s workforce could lead to higher energy costs for Americans, slow technological innovation, and compromise both national and global security. “It is extremely concerning that the department is reportedly considering firing the very experts tasked with maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear weapons stockpile,” the lawmakers said. 

The Energy Department oversees approximately 17,500 positions, handling a wide range of responsibilities, from nuclear weapons management to maintaining power grids. Only 9,004 of these positions have been deemed essential. While most of the NNSA workforce has been classified as essential, most national labs operated by the Energy Department are run by contractors and would remain unaffected by the proposed cuts. 

The document revealed that 500 positions within the NNSA and around 8,000 jobs across the Energy Department were identified as nonessential. Some reductions have already been made through deferred resignations. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has acknowledged that the department expanded too much under the Biden administration and is now working to "right-size" it. 

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) emerged in the US administration with the arrival of President Donald Trump, who was determined to reduce the budget deficit. Since January, the department has successfully reduced its workforce by 75,000 federal employees—individuals who agreed to voluntarily resign while still receiving their salaries until September. This accounts for approximately 4 per cent of the total number of government employees. A similar offer was extended to thousands of workers across federal agencies.

By Naila Huseynova