Federal agencies face unprecedented chaos as the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) abruptly reverse mass termination notices issued to hundreds of workers. Initial layoffs targeting departments like the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) triggered swift backlash, forcing rapid rollbacks amid fears of operational collapse.
Key agencies affected include the NNSA, where 272 of 300 fired employees were reinstated within days. A Department of Energy insider revealed critical gaps in communication during rehiring efforts, particularly for nuclear stockpile personnel. Similarly, the VA scrambled to restore staff to its Veterans Crisis Line after Senator Tammy Duckworth intervened.
My office pushed for accountability,Duckworth stated. Thankfully, some wrongful terminations are being corrected.
The USDA also backtracked on firing bird flu researchers, while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled 950 Indian Health Service layoffs hours after verbal notices. DOGE spokesperson Stephen Miller defended the process:
Rehiring isn’t an error—it’s a natural step when rightsizing bureaucracy.
President Trump dismissed concerns about instability:
We’re doing what voters demanded—streamlining government. Some cuts stick; others get reviewed. That’s efficiency.Meanwhile, the Office of Personnel Management confirmed some workers who accepted buyout offers received termination letters by mistake, adding to confusion.
- National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Department of Veterans Affairs Crisis Line
- USDA Bird Flu Research Teams
Experts warn this termination-rehire cycle risks long-term talent drain. Former HHS scientist Dr. Alicia Torres noted: Morale is shattered. Trust in stable careers? Gone. The White House maintains its partnership with Musk’s DOGE will eventually achieve $3B in annual savings despite growing bipartisan criticism.