TRUMP MAKES MAJOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ANNOUNCEMENT, U.S. MAY GO IN A NEW DIRECTION
Nuclear war isn’t something we deal with on an everyday level, yet, its possibility remains a part of our daily national security. President Trump’s nuke policies will have substantial implications on the present and future of how the United States approaches the subject. Cuts are on the horizon but present complications in finding a solution for limiting the construction and use of weapons of mass destruction.
What Did Trump Say About Nuclear Weapons?
President Trump has talked about shifting foreign policy to slow down the growing number of nuclear weapons world superpowers have access to.
Europe remains on edge as war rages on and there is the possibility of a nuclear attack, which would surely throw the world into hostile, uncharted waters.
Furthermore, China’s nuclear capabilities are another issue, keeping the U.S. from scaling back in the present but with the hope that future conditions could produce a more favorable path forward.
Trump has expressed his desire to help reduce military spending, including cutting back on nuke arsenals, while calling on other world superpowers to also scale back their military expenditures.
Cut, Cut, Cut, Cut
Only nine countries have nuclear weapons, with the United States featuring a defense budget of around $1 trillion, it’s no surprise that the American arsenal is one of the largest in the world.
Trump and his administration are looking to cut this extraordinary number and while doing so, have also criticized the near for so many new nuclear weapons being developed while already maintaining a strong arsenal.
As a result, cuts are expected, with President Trump looking to speak with the Kremlin as well as Chinese President Xi Jinping to figure out how each nation can collectively scale back its militaristic pursuits, including nuclear programs.
Is Less, More?
While many applaud the idea of Trump scaling back nukes, it’s a complex issue with many questioning whether or not such efforts would be effective.
Many supporters and opponents of the Trump administration still value a hefty investment in the U.S. military, including the development of new nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, even with diplomacy and global disarmament efforts, outliers exist. One of the most notable ones remains North Korea, which remains committed to its goal of becoming a legitimate nuclear power in Asia and beyond.
If the United States chose to stop producing nukes, many rivals and enemies could see it as a sign of weakness while ramping up their own production in the meantime.
Trump Nukes Staff in Charge of Stockpile
Not only has Trump had a lot to say on the subject of nukes, but there has been plenty of action as well. Action, that didn’t take long to become a problem.
More than 300 staffers at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were fired as Trump and Elon Musk continue to cut government workers and resources.
However, the NNSA has a very important job—maintaining our nation’s nuclear stockpile.
This includes not only the production of new weapons but also inspecting aging weapons to ensure they are operational and not harmful to their environments.
It’s not a role that is easily replaceable, demanding someone with the expertise, knowledge, and experience to take on.
Furthermore, these workers didn’t just work on nuclear weapons but were experts in charge of energy production for our nation, while also helping with more extreme nuclear policies on an international level.
However, it seems that due to officials not realizing how the NNSA fits into the U.S. nuclear program, they were let go.
This would cause concern within Congress, and although the U.S. Department of Energy claims only around 50 people were laid off, the firings were still a jarring move many believe weakened our national defense.
The next morning, Trump rescinded the firings and some probationary staff members were reinstated; however, not everyone has been easy to reach out to because the government denied them access while also not having their correct contact information.
Trump Admin Scrambles to Rehire Hundreds of Nuclear Workers
The Trump administration has rescinded the firings of hundreds of employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the nation's arsenal of weapons. About 325 NNSA workers initially received notices late last week that they had been laid off, according to Reuters.
The dismissals are part of Trump's wave of mass firings throughout the federal workforce, engineered by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
"We cannot expect to project strength, deterrence, and world dominance while simultaneously stripping away the federal workforce that provides strategic oversight to ensure our nuclear enterprise remains safe, secure, and effective," Rob Plonski, a deputy division director at NNSA, wrote in a Friday Linkedin post.
In an update on Saturday, Plonksi said: "NNSA Leadership pushed back and overturned the purge of highly skilled and mission critical staff that occurred yesterday." He thanked senior leaders for "taking a stand for what is right and critically necessary to ensure the safety and security of the nuclear enterprise."
Across the federal workforce, the Trump administration late last week fired probationary workers who were typically either hired or promoted to their positions within the last year.
Trump’s nuclear weapon ideas are off to a rocky start and while there are good intentions for a peaceful world, it’s clear more fine-tuning is necessary to achieve such goals.
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