Scenes of chaos and confusion erupted at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as the Trump administration initiated mass firings that were abruptly halted on Friday. The firings, affecting hundreds of employees, were part of a broader downsizing effort at the Department of Energy under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative to reduce government spending. The NNSA, responsible for overseeing the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, faced abrupt terminations with workers given minimal notice and limited explanations for the dismissals.

Managers at the NNSA struggled to retain essential workers, but the majority of exemption requests were denied, leading to abrupt verbal notifications of termination and immediate departures. The agency, critical for nuclear security missions like weapon maintenance and preventing illicit acquisition of nuclear materials, saw employees with Q clearances losing their jobs without clear explanations.

The termination process was marked by confusion, with some employees receiving termination letters while others remained uncertain about their employment status. The abrupt nature of the firings led to a pause in the termination process due to the chaotic circumstances. Despite some terminations being rescinded, the damage to morale and workforce stability was evident, with concerns raised about the appeal of these high-pressure, low-paid nuclear security jobs given the recent events.

The Department of Energy’s press office did not provide a comment on the matter, leaving current and former employees grappling with the aftermath of the sudden and disruptive workforce reductions at the NNSA.