WASHINGTON, Feb 21 – In a sweeping move to reduce the federal workforce, numerous key employees—including those managing America’s nuclear arsenal, scientists combating a severe bird flu outbreak, and officials ensuring power grid stability—were mistakenly terminated amid an aggressive layoff campaign. The administration is now scrambling to rehire hundreds of these workers, a development that experts say highlights the chaotic and potentially risky nature of rapidly dismantling the federal bureaucracy.
Don Moynihan, a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, criticized the process as “a staggering display of incompetence.” He remarked that the approach resembled “using a chainsaw on public services” without a careful evaluation of each employee’s role and responsibilities. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated that President Trump is aggressively cutting what he deems wasteful spending and non-essential positions. “Any crucial roles that were eliminated are being quickly identified and reinstated as agencies are reorganized to better serve the American public,” she explained.
In a notable twist, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and his team at the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are reportedly spearheading this downsizing effort, driven by Trump’s belief that the government is excessively bloated and corrupt. DOGE declined to comment on its involvement. The strategy has focused on terminating categories of workers who are easier to dismiss—such as probationary staff—rather than reviewing the specific duties of individual employees, a tactic that has led to numerous mistakes. For example, at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)—the agency responsible for overseeing the U.S. nuclear stockpile and safeguarding hazardous materials—almost 180 workers were fired last week, only for all but 28 of those layoffs to be reversed shortly thereafter.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who oversees the NNSA, admitted to Scripps News that the agency moved too quickly in its decision to dismiss workers. “When we discovered mistakes in the layoffs at NNSA, we reversed them within 24 hours,” he said. “But the security of our nation—our nuclear deterrence and our nuclear weapons—is critical, and we do not take that lightly.” The reversal followed internal emails instructing managers to “STOP ALL ACTIONS WITH TERMINATIONS,” according to documents obtained from sources. The rapid changes have taken a toll on morale, with one Energy Department source describing the atmosphere as one of shock and reduced productivity. Former Energy Department undersecretary Geraldine Richmond warned during a congressional hearing that the swift pace of the cuts could have enduring negative impacts on national security and on the confidence of those handling classified information.
