Why it matters:
The NNSA oversees the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and manages around 60,000 contractors across national labs.
The agency also secures nuclear materials globally, including in Ukraine, where the UN warns of rising risks due to Russia’s invasion.
The impact:
Only 400 NNSA employees will remain on duty.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that the shutdown will slow nuclear modernization efforts.
“We’re just getting momentum there … To have everybody unpaid and not coming to work, that will not be helpful,” Wright told Bloomberg.
What they’re saying:
Wright blamed Senate Democrats for the furloughs, citing their rejection of a GOP funding bill.
“Enough is enough,” he posted on X, accusing Sen. Chuck Schumer of prolonging the shutdown.
Arms control expert Daryl Kimball criticized the move, saying, “If the Trump administration really thinks the NNSA’s functions are important… they can find the funds.”
Details:
- The shutdown has lasted 17 days.
- Roughly 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed so far.
- “Essential” staff continue working without pay until the shutdown ends.
Flashback:
Earlier this year, NNSA employees were among those laid off during Elon Musk’s brief push to cut government spending via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The administration later reversed the firings.
What’s next:
Secretary Wright is scheduled to visit the National Nuclear Security Site in Nevada on Monday to assess the shutdown’s effects.
Go deeper:
U.S. Government Shutdown After Senate Fails to Pass Spending Bill
Hossein Amiri - seyed mohammad kazemi
