"The National Nuclear Security administration (NNSA) is the U.S. agency responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear explosive testing; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Established by the United States Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the United States Department of Energy." (Wikipedia)
We are currently in the midst of a transfer of power from one Presidential administration to another of a different party. It is common practice for an incoming administration to replace the Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries of agencies with their own people. Incoming Secretaries must be confirmed by the Senate and this process can take some time to find, vet and confirm an acceptable individual. Usually this is accomplished with minimum publicity unless there is a controversial nominee for a high level post such as Secretary of State. It is rare for there to be a controversy with the transfer of an agency such as the NNSA. Unfortunately, there is just such a controversy now.
In the current deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Russia, the other nation with a huge nuclear arsenal, it is obvious that the NNSA is an extremely important agency. In addition, there are threats from nuclear-armed China and North Korea. It would not be wise for the post of Secretary of the NNSA to go unoccupied for an extended period of time. Usually, the current Secretary and his Assistant Secretary would be asked to remain at their posts until suitable replacements were installed. This could easily take months.
It was recently reported that the current Secretary of the NNSA and his Assistant Secretary had been told by the Trump transition team to "clear out their desks" and be gone by January 20, the date of the incoming President's inauguration. This generated a lot of commentary in the press as being "unprecedented" and a threat to national security if the post should remain unoccupied for an extended period of time.
When reporters checked with the Trump transition team, they said that they had made no such request and that the stories in the media were "inaccurate." The reporters checked with the staff of the NNSA and were told that there had been no discussion with respect to the timing of the departure of the Secretary and his Assistant with the Trump transition team.
So it would appear that nothing ordinary had happened at the NNSA as far as the transfer of power is concerned. However, that would not be exactly accurate. Further probing by reporters revealed that the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of the NNSA had provided letters of resignation to the Trump transition team dated January 20th as is traditional. However, they also said that they would be willing to stay on until their replacements were available.
Normally, this offer to remain at their posts would be accepted. But, the Trump transition team did not contact the NNSA to accept the offer to stay. And, to date, the Trump transition team has not answered any of the requests for communication about the issue from the NNSA staff.
So the bottom line appears to be that through intent to depart from tradition or incompetence, the Trump transition team is going to let the office of Secretary and Assistant Secretary of NNSA go unfilled for an undetermined period. This is an unacceptable situation in the world of nuclear threats that we find ourselves in.
