Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realising they oversee the country's weapons stockpile, sources say

According to sources, officials in the Trump administration laid off over 300 employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on Thursday evening. The NNSA is responsible for managing the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, and the layoffs are part of a larger reduction in force at the Department of Energy. Sources say that some officials did not seem to understand that the agency is responsible for overseeing U.S. nuclear weapons.

A Department of Energy spokesperson disputed the number of people affected, telling CNN that the NNSA "separated" with "fewer than 50 people," and that those employees who were let go were "primarily in administrative and clerical positions." However, it is understood that some of the employees laid off included NNSA staff at nuclear weapons manufacturing facility sites who oversee contractors building nuclear weapons and inspect those weapons. Additionally, it included employees at NNSA headquarters who develop requirements and guidance for contractors building nuclear weapons.

One source told CNN that they believe these individuals were laid off because "no one took the time to understand what we do and what our work means to national security." One person familiar with the matter said that members of Congress have expressed concern to the Department of Energy about the NNSA layoffs, and senators have also visited Energy Secretary Chris Wright to express their concerns about the NNSA cuts. A source stated, "Congress is very alarmed by this because it doesn't seem like the Department of Energy really understands that NNSA oversees the nuclear weapons stockpile."

The agency began reversing the layoff decisions on Friday morning. Acting NNSA Administrator Teresa Robbins said at a meeting that the agency had been directed to reverse the terminations of probationary employees. Typically, probationary employees have been employed for less than a year, or in some cases two years, and have less job security and appeal rights. Robbins added on Friday that if probationary NNSA employees have not yet been terminated, then their jobs are now secure, and all NNSA employees who had their access to the agency's network and internal IT systems shut off will have their access restored. Sources said Robbins added that "it is highly likely that most or all of the probationary employees who were let go could return." Another source cautioned that the situation is very fluid and said "we don't know" how many people will be coming back.

One source said, "Congress is very supportive of NNSA's nuclear modernization efforts." "Clearly, NNSA is a critical agency. Some legislators have expressed concern about this." A Department of Energy spokesperson told CNN, "The Department of Energy will continue to execute its critical missions to protect our national security and nuclear deterrent through the development, modernization, and maintenance of the nation's atomic weapons enterprise, including the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and nonproliferation." According to sources, political officials at the Department of Energy directed their non-political human resources managers to use poor performance personnel files as the reason for laying off employees. Due to pressure from political appointees, two of those human resources employees submitted their resignations on Friday. In addition to overseeing U.S. nuclear weapons, the NNSA also helps secure nuclear materials nationwide. Sources told CNN that this is a critical mission, noting Russia's drone strike Thursday on a reactor at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant. "NNSA maintains sensors in Ukraine to help track nuclear risks, whether intentional or unintentional," one source said, adding that the layoffs are "terrifying."