US shutdown looming: 80% of nuclear safety workers to be furloughed
Illustrative photo: US Capitol building (Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to place the majority of civilian employees at the agency overseeing America’s nuclear arsenal on forced leave, according to Politico.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), part of the US Department of Energy, is expected to exhaust its financial resources by Saturday, October 18, forcing about 1,400 employees into unpaid leave, according to a notice sent to Congress.
Roughly 375 staff members will remain on duty to perform critical national security functions exempt from the shutdown. In total, about 80% of the agency’s personnel will not report to work on Monday. While the NNSA does not directly manage nuclear weapons operations, that responsibility lies with the Pentagon; it plays a vital role in maintaining and modernizing the US nuclear stockpile, overseeing naval nuclear facilities, and managing nonproliferation programs.
Political response and national security risks
Republican lawmakers on Friday warned of severe consequences from the furloughs. The Department of Energy and NNSA are said to be exploring "all options" to maintain critical security operations. House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers called the situation "another consequence" of the Senate’s failure to pass the temporary Republican funding bill.
"They will have to lay off 80 percent of their employees. These are not employees that you want to go home. They’re managing and handling a very important strategic asset for us. They need to be at work and being paid." He stressed that while military personnel would continue to receive pay thanks to redirected Pentagon funding, civilian defense workers would remain unpaid, weakening key national security functions.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to visit the Nevada National Security Site on Monday to assess the shutdown’s impact on US nuclear operations. The NNSA’s Office of Secure Transportation, responsible for moving nuclear weapons, components, and enriched materials, is funded only through October 27.
Shutdown impact
The US federal government entered a partial shutdown on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to approve a budget. The closure has already halted numerous public services, shuttered Smithsonian museums, and disrupted airport operations nationwide.
According to estimates, the shutdown costs the US economy roughly $15 billion per day in lost productivity and could become the longest in American history if no deal is reached soon.
