The US government is working to rehire nuclear staff members it recently fired after concerns were raised that their dismissal could threaten national security, according to reports. The affected employees worked for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is responsible for managing the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

The firings were part of a broader initiative led by President Donald Trump to reduce the size of the federal workforce, a process he began early in his presidency. Reports indicate that over 300 NNSA staff were let go, although the Department of Energy disputed this figure, stating that “less than 50 people” were dismissed.

Among those laid off were employees working at key facilities involved in nuclear weapons production. However, the administration has now sought to reverse some of these terminations, but has encountered difficulties in contacting the fired workers. Many had their federal email accounts disabled after their dismissal.

A memo from the NNSA, obtained by NBC News, explained the situation: “Termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to reach them.” The memo advised supervisors to contact the affected employees through personal email accounts.

This issue comes after nearly 10,000 federal employees were laid off across various agencies. This was in addition to the 75,000 workers who accepted voluntary buyout offers earlier in the autumn. Trump’s efforts to shrink government spending have also included controversial proposals, such as eliminating the Department of Education.

Elon Musk, through his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has helped the administration analyze data and implement cost-cutting measures, including the workforce reductions.

In addition to the nuclear staff dismissals, the Trump administration also ordered the termination of most probationary employees, who had been in their roles for less than a year. This is part of a broader plan to reduce the federal workforce, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The government’s attempts to reduce staff and spending have faced legal opposition, with over 60 lawsuits filed against the administration since President Trump took office.