Trump Administration Fires, Then Rehires Hundreds of Federal Employees

The Trump administration's recent cost-cutting measures led to mass layoffs affecting thousands of federal workers, including around 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). These layoffs were initially carried out swiftly, targeting probationary employees across various departments, but faced criticism and pushback, particularly regarding national security concerns. Consequently, the administration reversed the layoff decisions for many NNSA employees just a day after they were terminated, although the exact number of rehired workers remains unclear. In a separate but related issue, nearly 950 employees of the Indian Health Service were also laid off but were reinstated shortly after due to public outcry. The rapid and chaotic execution of these layoffs has raised alarms about potential vulnerabilities in critical government functions, including nuclear security and public health. Experts warn that the loss of personnel at vital inspection roles could jeopardize safety at U.S. borders.