They Fired America’s Nuclear Guards, Then Tried to Take It Back

A 24-hour reversal that reveals how government "efficiency" is threatening national security.

Under Trump’s second administration, tens of thousands of federal workers have been indiscriminately fired in sweeping cuts across government agencies. But one case stands out as particularly alarming: what happened at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in February 2025. 

The NNSA is the agency responsible for maintaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. It also oversees the secure transport of nuclear materials across the country—a high-risk, high-skill operation that demands careful coordination, specialized training, and total reliability. Since 1975, they’ve logged 140 million miles transporting nuclear materials without a single fatality or radioactive release.

Despite these critical responsibilities, the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) targeted the NNSA for mass layoffs. In February, roughly 300 NNSA employees were abruptly told they were terminated—not based on performance reviews or operational needs, but simply because of an employment classification that made them easy to fire. Workers were locked out of their government email accounts and told to clear out their desks immediately.

Among those fired were highly trained specialists who transport nuclear materials, and safety experts responsible for securing nuclear facilities. Many held the Energy Department’s highest-level “Q” security clearance, granting access to nuclear weapons design information.

Damage Control

The decision sparked immediate outrage. When the story broke in the media, it became clear that the administration had fired nuclear security personnel without understanding what the NNSA actually does. Facing mounting pressure and media scrutiny, the administration reversed course within 24 hours, ultimately rescinding all but 27 of the firings. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former CEO with no prior government experience, admitted the mistake saying “I probably moved a little too quickly there.”

This was something far more troubling than a mere bureaucratic mixup. Donald Trump’s administration fired 300 people at the agency responsible for America’s nuclear arsenal without understanding what that agency actually does. They only backed down when their mistake was exposed and became politically untenable. 

The NNSA was already understaffed before these cuts. It has long struggled to meet the demands of maintaining a safe and effective nuclear arsenal while modernizing aging weapons systems. Firing experienced personnel weakens the agency, and a whipsaw firing-rehiring is demoralizing and ensures that staff who can find other employment will leave as soon as they can.

The Broader Threat

NNSA is just one story of the havoc wreaked by DOGE’s reckless cuts. Across the federal government, similar actions are proceeding at critical agencies like the EPA, FDA, Department of Education, Veterans Affairs, and Social Security. Do the architects of those “efficiencies” understand what their agencies do any better than they understand NNSA’s role?

Most government functions won’t generate headlines like nuclear weapons, but they play important roles in keeping us all safe. Unglamorous work like food safety inspections, disease surveillance, monitoring infrastructure, or replacing lead pipes is vital and becomes visible only when it fails. 

Operating in the Dark

We shouldn’t take any comfort in the administration’s quick reversal on the NNSA firings. In fact, it just demonstrates a dangerous pattern of making sweeping cuts without understanding the consequences, then scrambling to fix the damage only when it becomes politically costly. 

This reactive approach might work if we were facing one or two crises at a time, but with so many self-inflicted disasters competing for attention (not to mention the systems they’re deliberately undermining), critical failures will inevitably slip through the cracks. 

We can't predict exactly which foodborne illnesses will result from FDA inspector layoffs, or which chemical leaks will poison water supplies due to gutted environmental oversight. But we know these consequences are coming. The only question is how many will go unnoticed until the damage is irreversible.

The NNSA incident shows what happens when ideological destruction masquerades as efficiency. The administration may have dodged a bullet this time, but they're still firing blind. And eventually, there won't be anyone left to tell them where they've hit.