The Massive Job Cuts Pushed by Elon Musk and Trump’s Administration

Nearly 10,000 Probationary Workers Laid Off, Including Nuclear Experts

In a sweeping move to reduce government expenditure, the administration of President Donald Trump, alongside Elon Musk, has implemented massive job cuts, resulting in the dismissal of nearly 10,000 probationary employees. This decision affects several departments, including critical national security agencies, such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), where some nuclear experts were also let go, causing a significant stir. According to CNN, “Musk's vision is becoming a reality,” but with unintended consequences for American security.

On February 16, Reuters reported that the U.S. federal government, under Trump's directive, laid off a significant portion of probationary employees across various departments, including the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The cuts targeted nearly 10,000 individuals, with approximately 2,300 from the Department of the Interior, 2,000 from the Department of Energy, 3,400 from the Forest Service, and 1,300 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Notably, in both the Forest Service and CDC, those let go represented about 10% of the workforce, leading some to dub the situation the “Valentine's Day massacre."

The job cuts follow a directive by President Trump to reduce the number of federal employees by firing probationary workers, defined as those with less than a year of service, whose employment protections are comparatively weaker. On February 11, Trump, standing next to Elon Musk, signed an executive order that authorized sweeping layoffs across federal agencies. The mass firings were carried out swiftly, and many employees were informed via pre-recorded videos or group calls. In some cases, workers were told to vacate the premises within 30 minutes.

The Trump administration has justified these layoffs as a means of streamlining government operations, with a goal of reducing the federal workforce by 2-5%, amounting to between 46,000 and 115,000 employees. Additional cuts are expected, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stating that further job losses would occur.

The rapid pace of these layoffs has raised concerns about national security, especially within key agencies like the NNSA, which is responsible for managing the U.S. nuclear arsenal. On February 14, around 400 employees were laid off from the NNSA, including some with expertise in nuclear safety. While these layoffs were quickly reversed, the damage was done. CNN reported that NNSA officials have been scrambling to rehire some of the fired employees, who play a critical role in maintaining the country’s nuclear deterrent.

The NNSA is tasked with overseeing the design, maintenance, and dismantling of nuclear weapons, as well as responding to nuclear emergencies and preventing terrorism. Despite this critical responsibility, the Trump administration's push for mass layoffs extended to this essential agency. An anonymous source within NNSA expressed concerns about the potential risks of such cuts, stating that even the smallest disruption in the country’s nuclear deterrence could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Furthermore, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the body responsible for protecting workers’ rights, has been rendered ineffective following Trump’s removal of one of its commissioners. With two vacant seats on the NLRB, the board is unable to make the necessary decisions to safeguard workers' interests, leaving labor protections in a precarious position. CNN noted that this situation has particularly affected Musk, a major financial and political supporter of Trump.

This wave of layoffs, while intended to enhance government efficiency, has led to serious concerns over the safety and integrity of critical national security functions, including the U.S. nuclear program. Despite the overwhelming push for a leaner government, these personnel cuts have raised alarms about the risks to American defense and public safety.