Key takeaways:

• Up to 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were abruptly fired, only to have the firings rescinded within 24 hours.
• The mass layoffs were part of a broader Department of Energy initiative associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• Experts express concern that such disruptions may weaken U.S. nuclear security and raise risks for surrounding communities.

In a surprising turn of events, the Trump administration has halted the mass firings of hundreds of federal employees engaged in the nation’s nuclear weapons programs. The abrupt decision to reverse these layoffs, affecting around 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), has caused widespread confusion and raised significant concerns regarding national security.

The layoffs occurred late Thursday and were part of a Department of Energy purge aiming to cut approximately 2,000 jobs as part of a new efficiency drive dubbed DOGE. However, it was reported that many of the employees laid off were not merely administrative staff as claimed; they held critical roles in nuclear weapons maintenance and safety across several vital facilities, including the Pantex Plant in Texas, which accounted for about 30% of the cuts.

As a consequence, on Friday night, the agency's acting director, Teresa Robbins, issued a memo reinstating most of the dismissed workers, except for 28. The memo, obtained by the Associated Press, stated, "This letter serves as formal notification that the termination decision issued to you on Feb. 13, 2025, has been rescinded, effective immediately."

Officials within the organization expressed concern over the firings and the lack of experience among DOGE staff regarding the unique responsibilities associated with managing nuclear programs. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, noted the grave implications, saying, “The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for; they don’t seem to realize that it’s actually the department of nuclear weapons more than it is the Department of Energy.”

Concerns have also been articulated by experts who claim that such disruptions in staff may undermine the operational stability of those programs and signal vulnerability to U.S. adversaries. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, warned, "I think the signal to U.S. adversaries is pretty clear: throw a monkey wrench in the whole national security apparatus and cause disarray; that can only benefit the adversaries of this country."

As lawmakers voiced their outrage—calling the firings "utterly callous and dangerous"—many affected employees are reconsidering their return amidst the chaos instigated by DOGE’s mismanagement. This comes at a critical juncture as the U.S. embarks on an extensive $750 billion modernization of its nuclear arsenal, which includes the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles, stealth bombers, and submarine-launched warheads. With a heavy reliance on a newly hired workforce, a staggering 60% of employees had been with the agency for five years or less as of 2023, a factor that diminishes institutional knowledge and expertise.

For further details, readers can explore the original articles on Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and India Times.