On Feb. 13, Trump administration officials fired more than 300 staffers at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the country’s nuclear weapons stockpile. The administration is seeking to rehire these employees. The Department of Energy oversees U.S. national energy policy and energy production, research and development of nuclear power, the military’s nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the Navy, energy-related research and energy conservation. Haphazard dismissal of personnel from the Department of Energy (DOE) has implications for our economy, international competitiveness, energy security and national security.
Not all mistakes made in the dismissal of personnel will be so easily caught. Many mistakes will be more subtle but will still have impacts on our energy and national security. One of the areas that could easily be impacted by cuts which disregard function is the area of critical minerals. The DOE has spent the last 11 years, including time during the first Trump administration, on reestablishing domestic capabilities for sourcing the critical minerals needed for a variety of industries — computer hardware, batteries, health care, electric vehicles and electric grid components. We need to continue this work so our ability to function as a nation is not dependent on China.
These dismissals need appropriate oversight. Experienced Senate leadership should be involved in making sure decisions are made in our nation’s best interests in tandem with professional DOE staff — not by inexperienced Silicon Valley technology interns.
Dana Siler
Squirrel Hill
The writer is a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby.