President Donald Trump has faced backlash after firing hundreds of employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), leading multiple government officials to warn of a “national security crisis.”
Sources told ABC News that the firings have disrupted key operations at the agency, including the protection of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, disaster response efforts, and tracking of nuclear threats from other countries.
Former employees shared with ABC News that probationary workers received termination notices late last week. With the NNSA’s staff of only around 1,800, these layoffs have left the agency struggling to maintain its nuclear expertise.
In response to growing backlash, the Trump has now paused the mass firings at the agency. NBC News reported that badges have been reactivated, and workers are being granted access to federal systems again.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has targeted several government agencies, is also pushing for large-scale layoffs. The department has already cut jobs at agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and now it’s focused on the NNSA.
