Overview

• The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has cut over 150 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), including engineers, scientists, and safety experts.
• The NNSA, already facing staffing shortages, is responsible for maintaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a $20 billion annual effort involving 3,748 warheads and bombs.
• Key positions affected include experts in uranium enrichment, plutonium pit production, and nuclear material transportation, critical for the U.S.'s nuclear modernization initiatives.
• The cuts have disrupted oversight of federal contractors, who perform much of the nuclear work, raising concerns about safety, cost overruns, and project delays.
• Experts warn that the loss of experienced personnel with top-secret clearances will hinder training replacements and jeopardize national security during a critical period of nuclear upgrades.