The U.S. Energy Agency has identified 8,500 jobs as “non-essential” as it prepares to cut employees in response to mandate from Elon Musk’s government efficiency team.
These “non-essential” roles account for about half of the division’s 17,500 positions and could be targeted in upcoming layoffs, according to documents seen by Bloomberg News. This list includes positions across departments, including the National Nuclear Security Agency.
The Energy Bureau is conducting an agency-wide review of the organizational structure at the request of President Donald Trump. President Donald Trump is to identify ways to increase government efficiency for masks, reduce costs and reduce federal workforce. All agencies are instructed to make plans to cull staff.
“No final decisions have been made and several plans are still being considered,” the department said in a statement.
The documents show that 500 of the 3,000 positions at the National Nuclear Security Agency were deemed unrequited.
The Associated Press first reported the document.
The agency earlier this year raised vigilance after suddenly firing hundreds of workers responsible for designing and maintaining nuclear weapon caches before turning the course back.
Previously:Dismissed nuclear bomb experts called by the energy department
The Energy sector has a vast mission, from overseeing emergency oil caches to protecting the power grid from cyber threats. After accepting the postponed offer of resignation, 1,300 staff have already been placed on administrative leave. The agency also cut 555 probation workers, documents show.
Congressional Democrats, including Washington Sen. Patty Murray and Ohio Representative Marcy Captull, have said cuts to Impalil national security in the department.
“Any staffing across the Department of Energy will recklessly put our ability to fulfill its mission at risk,” the lawmaker said in a statement. “Stopping the sector will raise the energy costs of American FAs
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com.
