The Trump administration’s sudden reversal of layoffs at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has shed light on the agency’s critical role in maintaining America’s nuclear arsenal. Here’s what the NNSA does and why its employees were initially fired.
The NNSA is responsible for safeguarding over 3,000 nuclear warheads, supervising new warhead production, and thwarting nuclear proliferation. It also oversees research and development of nuclear propulsion systems for submarines and directs national laboratories that provide key scientific knowledge for the US nuclear weapons system.
These laboratories include Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, where the Manhattan Project took place during World War II. The NNSA sits within the Department of Energy, despite its pivotal role in military defense strategy.
In April 2024, about 300 probationary employees were fired at the agency, according to people familiar with the matter. However, some laid-off staff members were later told to return to their jobs on Friday night, reportedly due to difficulties in reaching out to them after they lost access to federal government email accounts.
The NNSA is currently modernizing the US nuclear weapons arsenal, which requires significant investment and research. The agency’s ability to provide nuclear warheads in a timely manner is crucial for the Defense Department’s nuclear modernization programs.
Congress has expressed concerns about workforce recruitment and retention issues at the NNSA, citing high attrition rates among skilled employees due to long hours and fierce competition from private sector job offers.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/politics/trump-national-nuclear-security-administration-employees-firings.html