The Big Story 

The Energy Department (DOE) considers more than 40 percent of its staffers to be nonessential — meaning these people could be on the chopping block — as mass layoffs loom at the agency and across the federal government.

©Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press file

A document viewed by The Hill on Friday states that out of the agency’s current headcount of 15,994 positions — 9,004 are essential, meaning some 7,000 other positions are not. 

The approximately 16,000 total positions listed by the agency does include nearly 1,300 people who are currently on leave because they accepted the “Fork in the Road” buyout or because their roles relate to diversity, equity and inclusion, which the administration sought to eliminate from the government. 

It’s not immediately clear whether everyone deemed nonessential will be laid off. A spokesperson for the Energy Department said that no final decisions have been made as of Friday evening. 

The spokesperson said the department is conducting a “review of its organizational structures to ensure operations are best positioned to accomplish the DOE mission and align with the Trump administration’s priorities.”

“No final decisions have been made and multiple plans are still being considered,” the spokesperson added.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin  — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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