U.S. nuclear weapons workforce faces furloughs if shutdown persists, Energy Secretary warns

Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that thousands of workers responsible for maintaining and modernizing the United States’ nuclear arsenal could soon be furloughed if the federal government shutdown drags on past Friday.

Speaking Thursday on Bloomberg Television, Wright said the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Energy Department division overseeing the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, will be unable to pay many of its employees and contractors within days.

“Starting tomorrow, Monday at the latest, we are not going to be able to pay those workers,” he said. “If that continues on for long, they may get other jobs. They’re going to stop their efforts to modernize our nuclear weapons, to guarantee the sovereignty of our country, something we shouldn’t mess around with.”

The NNSA, which operates semi-independently within the Energy Department, manages the production and dismantling of nuclear weapons, supplies naval nuclear reactor, and leads responses to radiological and nuclear emergencies. It also supports counterterrorism operations and secures nuclear materials worldwide.

Wright said as many as 100,000 contract workers could be affected, noting that unlike federal employees, they may not qualify for back pay once the shutdown ends. The department expects to stagger the furloughs to preserve essential operations as long as possible.

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