• The US Department of Energy (DOE) has laid off between 1,200 to 2,000 employees.
• Individuals from nuclear security and the loans office are among those affected.
• Democratic lawmakers express concern over safety risks tied to layoffs at national labs and nuclear sites.
• These layoffs coincide with the involvement of representatives from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
• Some layoffs, particularly those at the National Nuclear Security Administration, may have been partially rescinded.

In a move that has raised alarms among lawmakers and the public alike, the administration of President Donald Trump has commenced massive layoffs at the Department of Energy (DOE), letting go of approximately 1,200 to 2,000 workers. This significant reduction includes employees from critical sections such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the loans office, impacting initiatives crucial for national safety and energy security, as reported by VOA News and Newsweek.

The layoffs reportedly affect not just the NNSA, which oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons and the securing of radiological materials globally, but also personnel at various national labs, hydroelectric facilities, and Cold War-era nuclear sites. These layoffs come in the wake of the arrival of representatives from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aiming to streamline operations within the DOE, as underscored by sources familiar with the matter. In fact, approximately 325 positions were dropped from the NNSA, although some dismissals may have been partially rescinded according to one insider (as noted by Reuters).

The chaos generated by these layoffs has drawn ire from Democratic lawmakers. Senator Patty Murray of Washington has expressed that these firings threaten critical cleanup operations at contaminated sites like Hanford, a former nuclear production facility. Murray stated, “These reckless firings will slow down critical cleanup work and make workers less safe—trying to run Hanford with a skeleton crew is a recipe for disaster that could have irreversible impacts.” Similar concerns have arisen across other DOE-managed operations, where over 600 staff members, including electricians and cybersecurity experts, have lost their jobs.

As the DOE employs about 14,000 federal workers and manages approximately 95,000 contractors, the ripple effects of these layoffs are poised to raise serious safety and efficiency challenges in the energy sector and beyond. The number of people affected by these layoffs and their implications continue to develop as the situation evolves. For more details and updates, readers can follow the ongoing coverage from VOA News, Newsweek, and Reuters.