The U.S. Energy Department has identified thousands of staffers it has deemed as non-essential, including at its office that manages the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal, who would not be protected in a second round of cuts, an Associated Press report said on Friday.
More than 8,500 staffers across the department and 500 positions at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which also works around the world to secure dangerous nuclear materials, were deemed “non-essential,” it reported, citing a document.
An NNSA source told Reuters that leaders at the office were asked by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to identify non-essential staff but were led to believe that the office would be spared future cuts because of its key role in nuclear security.
An Energy Department spokesperson said, “No final decisions have been made and multiple plans are still being considered.” The department is conducting a wide review, the spokesperson said.
In a first round of cuts, dozens of NNSA staffers were cut after far wider layoffs of more than 300 were rescinded following chaos among staffers who suddenly lost access to programs on their government-issued phones and laptops. Energy Secretary Chris Wright publicly apologized about mistakes made during the first round of cuts at NNSA.
“It is extremely concerning that the Department is reportedly considering firing the very experts tasked with maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear weapons stockpile,” U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Representative Marcy Kaptur said in a statement.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner Editing by Marguerita Choy)