US Government Shutdown: Over 80% of Nuclear Agency Employees Furloughed Amid Fiscal Crisis
The United States is currently experiencing a significant government shutdown, which has profound implications for national security and defense capabilities.
According to official reports, approximately 80% of staff at one of the country’s most crucial agencies—the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)—have been placed on furlough due to lack of federal funding.
About 1,400 employees, responsible for managing and modernizing the U.S.
nuclear arsenal, are affected by this temporary suspension.
Secretary of Energy Krist Rait publicly stated that essential personnel maintaining nuclear safety and technology remain on duty despite the shutdown.
Meanwhile, nearly 60,000 contractors connected to NNSA and other Department of Energy operations, including international missions such as in Ukraine, are also facing furloughs.
The crisis threatens to disrupt the ongoing nuclear modernization program, critical for replacing outdated arsenals and ensuring strategic security.