Trump administration reverses mass firings of nuclear arsenal workers

The Trump administration has reversed a mass firing of hundreds of employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) after a chaotic rollout that left workers confused and security experts alarmed.

The reversal, issued late on February 14, followed pushback from lawmakers and national security officials who warned the move could destabilize the nation’s nuclear weapons program, Caliber.Az reports per US media.

Three U.S. officials said that up to 350 NNSA employees were notified of their termination late on February 13, with some losing access to government systems before learning of their firing. At the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, a critical nuclear warhead facility, around 30% of the workforce was affected.

The firings were part of a broader workforce reduction at the Department of Energy (DOE), led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a team formed under Trump ally Elon Musk. DOGE has pursued aggressive cost-cutting, but critics argue it lacks understanding of national security implications.

“The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association.

By late Friday night (February 14), the administration rescinded most layoffs, except for 28 employees, according to an NNSA memo. However, the DOE downplayed the situation, claiming fewer than 50 administrative staff were dismissed—an assertion contradicted by sources stating many were in technical roles.

The layoffs drew swift condemnation from lawmakers, including Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who called them “utterly callous and dangerous.”

Security experts warn the turmoil could undermine confidence in U.S. nuclear stability. The NNSA oversees a $750 billion nuclear modernization effort, but retirements in recent years have left a significant knowledge gap, with 60% of employees hired in the last five years.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, cautioned that the chaos could embolden U.S. adversaries.

Beyond weapons programs, the layoffs affected personnel managing radioactive waste at sites like the Savannah River National Laboratory, the Hanford Nuclear Site, and the Oak Ridge Reservation.

Despite being reinstated, some workers remain uncertain about their future. The episode has raised concerns over the Trump administration’s approach to workforce management—and whether cost-cutting is coming at the expense of national security.

By Aghakazim Guliyev