1. What is the Department of Energy?
2. List of Department of Energy Firings
   1. Various Employees

What is the Department of Energy?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is a federal agency responsible for policies related to energy production, regulation, and innovation. It oversees the nation’s energy supply, including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable energy sources. The DOE plays a central role in ensuring the country has reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy, while also advancing energy technologies and promoting energy conservation.

Beyond energy policy, the DOE is also tasked with maintaining the safety and effectiveness of the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile, a responsibility managed through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The department is also involved in nuclear nonproliferation efforts and the cleanup of environmental contamination from decades of nuclear weapons production and energy research.

Additionally, the Department of Energy supports a network of national laboratories and research institutions that drive scientific discovery and technological advancement. These labs contribute to fields like physics, materials science, and artificial intelligence. Through research and development programs, the DOE fosters innovation to help meet future energy demands and address environmental challenges such as climate change.

TL;DR: The Department of Energy makes sure the U.S. has power, handles nukes safely, and helps invent better energy stuff.

List of Department of Energy Firings

Below is a list of United States Agency for International Development personnel that have been fired by President Donald Trump or the Trump Administration, sorted by most recent:

Various Employees

Approximately 1,400 Employees – U.S. Department of Energy
Firings in February 2025

Over 2,600 employees at the U.S. Department of Energy have resigned as part of a second round of voluntary departure offers under the Trump administration, with previous rounds including firings and earlier offers bringing total departures to roughly 4,000. These workforce reductions have affected several key offices, including those focused on power grid stability and clean energy loan programs, prompting concerns about the department’s operational capacity.

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) saw up to 350 staffers let go before many were rehired due to the critical nature of their work. While the administration initially imposed a 90-day hiring freeze, the DOE plans to extend it to further reduce its workforce, identifying about 7,000 of its nearly 16,000 positions as nonessential. Offices involved in manufacturing, energy supply chains, and clean energy deployment have also experienced significant staffing losses.

TL;DR: Over 6,000 employees quit or got fired from the Department of Energy, including important workers who keep the power grid running and handle clean energy, making it harder for the department to do its job.