Why furloughed nuclear workers heighten safety risks during US shutdown

NNSA staff furloughed during shutdown

The agency tasked with safeguarding the United States’ nuclear arsenal began placing the majority of its employees on enforced leave Monday, an official confirmed, after yet another congressional vote to end the ongoing government shutdown failed.

As the standoff approaches its fourth week, around 1,400 workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were scheduled to receive notices placing them on unpaid furlough.

“Due to the Democrat shutdown, approximately 1,400 NNSA federal employees will be furloughed as of today, October 20th and nearly 400 NNSA federal employees will continue to work to support the protection of property and the safety of human life,” a Department of Energy spokesperson said in a statement.

The United States maintains a stockpile of 5,177 nuclear warheads, with roughly 1,770 deployed, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a global security non-profit. The NNSA, which oversees 60,000 contractors, is responsible for designing, manufacturing, servicing, and securing these weapons.

The Department of Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though CNN reported that the furloughs will initially affect sites involved in nuclear weapons assembly, including Pantex in Texas and Y‑12 in Tennessee.

At 20 days, the U.S. is now experiencing its longest full government shutdown on record, and the third-longest if partial shutdowns are included.

President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Democrats to align with Republicans and reopen the government, warning of further cuts to public services and potential mass layoffs.

"So we're hoping the Democrats become much less deranged and that we will get the vote pretty soon. And I hear they're starting to feel that way, too," Trump said at the White House.

Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, told CNBC he expected the shutdown to end "some time this week" -- but he warned Democrats of "stronger measures... to bring them to the table" if it dragged on further.
Democrats' key condition for backing a House-passed funding resolution that would reopen the government through late November is the renewal of expiring health care subsidies for 24 million Americans.

Senate Republicans have offered a vote on renewing the subsidies, but many Democrats insist that any deal in the upper chamber will be meaningless without the sign-off of Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

A Senate vote Monday evening on a House-passed resolution to reopen the government failed, for the 11th time.

Johnson has vowed to keep the House closed until the shutdown ends, and it has already been out of session since September 19.

"Every day that the government is shut down, it is a danger to the American people," Johnson told reporters on Monday when asked about the NNSA furloughs.

He warned that falling behind US adversaries in the nuclear arms race would be a "very serious" threat to the country's status as "the last great superpower."

Trump has been clear that he believes Republicans are winning the messaging war and has not felt the need so far to intervene.

But Democratic strategists are confident that they can stick Republicans with the blame for skyrocketing premiums and health care coverage losses that would hit millions of Americans in 2026 if no action is taken.

"In Georgia, Virginia and Maryland, people are now finding out that their health insurance premiums are about to increase, in some instances by more than $2,000 per month, for a total of $24,000 per year," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters.

"No one can afford those types of increases."

Federal employees -- who generally get paid every two weeks -- are expected to miss the entire amount for the first time on Thursday, and troop pay is another issue pressuring lawmakers to strike a deal.

The Senate is due to consider legislation midweek that would allow members of the military and other federal workers to receive pay, though it is not clear that the effort has sufficient Democratic buy-in.