FROM DAILY MAIL: The agency overseeing America’s nuclear arsenal has warned of ‘dire consequences’ as the US government shutdown forces them to furlough workers for the first time in history, piling pressure on President Donald Trump to end the Washington stalemate.
The National Nuclear Security Administration will today give notice to 1,400 staff, with fewer than 400 to remain as the government shutdown drags into its 20th day.
Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed the extraordinary move, describing the impacted employees as ‘critical to modernizing our nuclear arsenal.’
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s primary mission is to ensure the US has a healthy stockpile of nuclear weapons and to prevent and monitor nuclear proliferation globally.
This is the first time in history the NNSA will be affected by funding lapses, Energy Department spokesperson Ben Dietderich told CNN.
“Since its creation in 2000, NNSA has never before furloughed federal workers during funding lapses,” Dietderich said. “We are left with no choice this time. We’ve extended funding as long as we could.
“The longer the shutdown lasts, the more damaging and dire the consequences will be for workforce retention and weapons modernization efforts critical to national security.”
U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) wrote on X, “The employees at the NNSA are patriots who do important work every day to keep our nuclear deterrent safe, secure, and ready at a moment’s notice. These professionals should never be furloughed or go without pay.”
“Democrats must reopen our government & stop their political games,” Fleischmann added.
The employees at the NNSA are patriots who do important work every day to keep our nuclear deterrent safe, secure, and ready at a moment’s notice. These professionals should never be furloughed or go without pay.
Democrats must reopen our government & stop their political games. https://t.co/X0JCxYwrGW
— Chuck Fleischmann (@RepChuck) October 18, 2025
Federal agency overseeing US nuclear stockpile will furlough most of its workforce starting Monday | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/RWX2bSeED5
— WXII 12 News (@WXII) October 20, 2025
