Rubén Andrés
WriterWriter at Xataka. I've been working remotely for more than a decade and I'm a strong advocate of technology as a way to improve our lives. Full-time addict of black, sugar-free coffee.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, continues to fire civil servants, whom the world’s richest man considers expendable. In its latest move, DOGE officials dismissed 350 employees from the Department of Energy (DOE) without realizing they were responsible for assembling nuclear warheads and handling nuclear waste.
Nuclear layoffs. According to CBS News, DOGE officials believed they were terminating probationary or low-level DOE employees last Thursday, failing to verify their roles. Among those let go were hundreds of federal employees working on U.S. nuclear weapons programs.
The Associated Press reported that 350 National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) employees were abruptly dismissed. Some lost access to their email accounts before being formally notified, while others discovered their credentials no longer worked at their workstations.
Nuclear warhead specialists affected. One of the hardest-hit facilities was the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, which faced a 30% workforce reduction without notice. Pantex workers are responsible for assembling and disassembling nuclear warheads, a specialized role requiring top security clearance.
Following the backlash, NNSA acting administrator Teresa Robbins rescinded the termination orders, citing confusion across the agency. However, 28 employees weren’t reinstated. A memo obtained by the Associated Press stated: “This letter serves as formal notification that the termination decision issued to you on Feb. 13, 2025 has been rescinded, effective immediately.”
Fire first, ask questions later. The layoffs highlight DOGE’s lack of due diligence in analyzing employee responsibilities before termination.
The move is consistent with Musk’s previous actions: He axed Tesla’s Supercharger development team, only to rehire them after the service suffered. He also dismantled X’s moderation team, leading to turmoil.
Chaos in a strategic department. “The DOGE people are coming in with absolutely no knowledge of what these departments are responsible for,” Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said. “They don’t seem to realize that it’s actually the department of nuclear weapons more than it is the Department of Energy.”
Senior NNSA official Rob Plonski expressed similar concerns in a LinkedIn post: “This is a pivotal moment. We must decide whether we are truly committed to leading on the world stage or if we are content with undermining the very systems that secure our nation’s future.” He also warned that cutting key federal personnel responsible for nuclear security is “reckless at best and advisarilly opportunistic at worst.”
A blow to U.S. nuclear forces. The abrupt layoffs and reversals have shaken employee confidence. Some officials are now reconsidering whether to return to the agency, a source told CNN.
Many of those affected have dedicated their careers to nuclear security, and the DOE was already struggling with talent loss due to retirements. This comes at a critical time, as the U.S. embarks on a $750 billion nuclear weapons modernization program.
Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear security at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told CBS News the chaos could disrupt the agency’s operations and create instability in the U.S. nuclear program—both domestically and abroad. “That can only benefit the adversaries of this country,” he added.
Image | MEAphotogallery | Sven Verweij (Unsplash)
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