Trump government allegedly terminated hundreds of workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) without even realizing they oversaw the US nuclear arsenal, CNN said.
Quoting sources close to the situation, the report said that around 300 employees were terminated on the evening of February 13. However, a spokesperson for the Energy Department later asserted that only “less than 50” workers were actually fired and that a majority of them were administrative or clerical personnel.
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By morning on the next day, the NNSA had already reversed its decision, CNN reported.
Who Was Affected?
Among the first to be let go were staff members who were tasked with writing requirements and guidelines for contractors who worked on nuclear weapons production. “No one has taken the time to understand what we do and how crucial our work is to national security,” a source explained to CNN.
Congress Expresses Alarm
The action created by an instant reaction from lawmakers as they held meetings with Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “Congress is freaking out because it appears DOE didn’t understand that NNSA is responsible for the nuclear stockpile,” said a source, adding that disruption of nuclear deterrence was something serious.
Rehiring Underway
By Feb. 14, NNSA Administrator Teresa Robbins verified that the agency had been directed to reverse the dismissals of probationary workers. “There is a reasonable chance that most or all of the affected employees may be able to return,” she stated.
The sole exception to the original dismissals were personnel at the Office of Secure Transportation, who are engaged in safely transporting nuclear weapons throughout the nation.
