The US government shutdown is forcing the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to furlough 1,400 workers by Monday. This accounts for around 80 per cent of the agency’s staff. The Energy Department confirmed the decision on Friday.
“The National Nuclear Security Administration will keep about 400 workers to protect property and the safety of human life,” the department said. While semiautonomous, the NNSA is overseen by the Energy Department and was established in 2000.
Role of the National Nuclear Security Administration
The NNSA is responsible for maintaining the United States’ nuclear stockpile and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide. Its predecessors included the Atomic Energy Commission and the Energy Research and Development Administration.
According to The New York Times, the agency employs nearly 100,000 contractors and subcontractors. Notably, it has never furloughed government employees during previous shutdowns.
Ben Dietderich, a spokesperson for the Energy Department, said, “We are left with no choice this time. We’ve extended funding as long as we could.”
Energy Secretary to Inspect Nuclear Station
The Energy Department said the agency’s Office of Secure Transportation, which moves nuclear weapons and materials, has funding to operate until October 27. Energy Secretary Chris Wright plans to visit a nuclear security station on Monday to assess the effects of the shutdown on US nuclear deterrence efforts.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Wright stated that the US nuclear stockpile remains secure but warned that the shutdown could delay programs to replace aging weapons. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that modernizing America’s nuclear arsenal will cost over $900 billion in the next decade.
Concerns Raised by Lawmakers and Watchdogs
US Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama and chair of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed concern over the furloughs.
“These are not employees that you want to go home,” Rogers said on Friday. “They’re managing and handling a very important strategic asset for us. They need to be at work and be paid.”
Meanwhile, Jay Coghlan, executive director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, said it is unclear if the furloughs will affect nuclear safety immediately. “As a baseline, the nuclear safety officers have always been understaffed. There is simply not enough federal oversight as is. And then you’re talking about furloughing more,” he added.