United States. During the mass layoffs of public employees implemented by DOGE Elon Musk on behalf of the US government, the Trump administration fired 17% of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) workers, who manage America’s nuclear weapons. These workers perform sensitive tasks, such as keeping 5,000 nuclear warheads safe and preventing radiation leaks or accidental explosions. Despite the objections of senior nuclear officials, the layoffs occurred quickly, raising concerns about national security. Many of those laid off held Q-level security clearances, which grant access to nuclear secrets. Nuclear non-proliferation experts have warned of the risks of dismissing these workers, who could be targeted by rogue states and terrorist groups.
