Donald Trump News / Trump administration halts firing of nuclear weapons workers

The Trump administration halted the firing of more than 350 employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration. The employees who were fired suddenly found their offices locked. Experts called it a security threat. The acting director canceled the firing of all but 28, creating a situation of instability.

Donald Trump News: The Donald Trump administration has halted the dismissal of hundreds of federal employees working under the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). These employees were associated with the US nuclear weapons programs. This unexpected move by the administration has confused employees, and security experts have also raised concerns about this decision.

Sudden dismissal of more than 350 employees

According to three US officials who gave information to AP, more than 350 employees were suddenly fired at the NNSA late Thursday night. Before the employees could know about their dismissal, when they reached their offices on Friday morning, they found them locked.

Officials, on condition of anonymity, said that one of the offices most affected by this layoff was the Pantex plant located near Amarillo, Texas, where about 30 percent was cut. The Pantex plant is a major center for the maintenance and disarmament of US nuclear weapons.

Role and controversy of DOGE team

Arms Control Association executive director Daryl Kimball questioned the role of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, saying, "People at DOGE are absolutely unaware of what this department is responsible for." According to experts, this move could hamper the smooth functioning of the national security apparatus.

Partial cancellation of dismissal

By late Friday night, the agency's acting director Teresa Robbins issued a memo canceling the dismissal of all but 28 employees. According to the memo obtained by the AP, "This letter serves as formal notification that your dismissal order issued on February 13, 2025 is rescinded with immediate effect."

Impact on national security

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear energy security at the Union of Concerned Scientists, warned that such dismissals and administrative instability could adversely affect the US national security apparatus. He said, "This is a clear signal for America's opponents to create chaos in the entire national security system. This can only benefit the opponents of this country."

Conclusion

This dramatic move by the Trump administration has worried national security experts. While on the one hand the restoration of employees has brought temporary relief, on the other hand this incident has raised new questions about the transparency and stability of administrative decisions.