The Energy Department estimates that over 40% of its workforce is non-essential. This means that these individuals are facing significant layoffs across various agencies and the federal government.
The document reviewed by Oka on Friday indicated that out of 15,994 positions, 9,004 individuals are essential. This implies that roughly 7,000 other positions are deemed non-essential.
The agency’s total of around 16,000 positions includes nearly 1,300 employees who are currently on leave, covering roles related to diversity, equity, and inclusion that the government has classified as “forks on the road” or that it has attempted to eliminate from the agency.
It remains unclear who will be categorized as non-essential. A spokesperson for the energy division stated that no final decisions had been reached as of Friday evening.
A representative mentioned that the department is undergoing an “organizational structure review to ensure operations are optimally aligned to achieve the DOE mission and coincide with the priorities of the Trump administration.”
“No definitive decisions have been made and several plans are still being evaluated,” the spokesperson added.
The documents were initially reported by the Associated Press.
The energy sector portfolio encompasses both energy technology and innovation, alongside nuclear weapons.
The announcement has led to tens of thousands of personnel being laid off from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Veterans Division as the Trump administration aims for broader workforce reductions.
Nonetheless, these layoffs included prior efforts to terminate recently hired individuals within the energy sector, with some employees being dismissed and subsequently reinstated. In Energy, this impacts staff involved in nuclear security; Electricity Engine.
The documents reviewed by Hill outline the agencies and offices that the energy sector views as essential. These comprise the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, Environmental Health, Safety, Security, Environmental Management, Intelligence Agency, the Office of Intelligence Agency, the National Nuclear Security Agency, and the Power Department of Bonneville, Southeast, Southwest, and Western Regions.
Some of the documents seen by Hill do not detail positions that are considered unessential.
