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. 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 related to diversity, equity and inclusion, which the administration sought to eliminate from the government.