‘It doesn’t make sense’: Questions remain after report that Trump team fired leaders of US nuclear weapons safety and security

As Inauguration Day draws near, thousands of US government workers tapped by the Obama administration are waiting for a pink slip from President-elect Donald Trump.

It isn’t unusual for a new president to clean house across US agencies, but neither is keeping a few crucial appointed roles filled — at least until worthy successors are named. This is especially true of the leadership of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which safeguards America’s stockpile of roughly 7,000 nuclear weapons.

But according to a Monday Gizmodo story by Ashley Feinberg, Trump’s transition team just lopped off the top of NNSA’s organization chart, effectively sending leaders Frank Klotz and Madelyn Creedon packing on January 20.

The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.

The apparent implosion of NNSA leadership is the word from an unnamed “official within the Department of Energy.”

“According to [Gizmodo’s] Energy Department source, Trump’s team has yet to nominate anyone to succeed them. Since both positions require Senate confirmation, if could be months before their chairs are filled. And the vacancies may extend beyond the leadership roles,” the report said.

 

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Featured image courtesy of Business Insider/ US Navy.