The Trump administration abruptly fired more than 300 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on Thursday night, only to begin reversing the decision the next morning after reportedly learning the agency manages America’s nuclear weapons.
The mass terminations were part of broader layoffs within the Department of Energy. However, according to CNN, administration officials were seemingly unaware of the NNSA’s critical role in overseeing the safety and security of the nation’s nuclear stockpile. The oversight caused immediate confusion within the agency and sparked concerns about the government’s handling of national security matters.
By Friday, the NNSA had begun reinstating some of the dismissed employees, though it remains unclear how many were ultimately rehired.
With the agency’s workforce in turmoil, the mishap raises broader questions about how decisions affect national security.
