Trump administration furloughs nuclear weapons agency staff due to shutdown

"Shutdown Leaves Thousands Without Pay as Trump Administration Furloughs NNSA Staff"

In the midst of a 17-day government shutdown, President Donald Trump's administration has announced that it will furlough nearly 1,400 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which oversees the US nuclear weapons stockpile. Approximately 400 workers have been deemed "essential" and will remain on the job without pay.

The decision was made by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who posted a statement on social media, saying that "enough is enough." Wright claimed that the Democratic-led shutdown is to blame for the furloughs, stating, "because of [Chuck] Schumer's disastrous Shutdown."

The NNSA is responsible for maintaining and testing nuclear weapons at national laboratories across the US, as well as securing dangerous nuclear materials worldwide. The agency also works to secure nuclear materials in conflict zones like Ukraine, where there is a heightened risk of nuclear disaster.

Critics, including nuclear weapons control expert Daryl Kimball, have accused the Trump administration of prioritizing ideology over safety and security concerns. "If the Trump administration really thinks the NNSA's functions are important – and many of them are essential for nuclear facility safety and security – I am sure they can find the funds to keep the workers on the job," Kimball said.

Wright warned that the modernization of the US's nuclear weapons program will be slowed by the shutdown, stating that unpaid employees would not be able to "come to work." The Energy Department has announced plans for Wright to visit the National Nuclear Security Site in Nevada to discuss the impacts of the shutdown.

oh man what's going on with this shutdown I mean like thousands of ppl losing pay and it's all cuz of party politics is that really how we're supposed to run a country? where can i find more info on why some ppl are considered essential while others get furloughed? and btw isn't the nnsa kinda super secretive about what they do? shouldn't there be more transparency about their work?

Ugh, can't believe what's happening here! A 17-day shutdown and already thousands are losing pay? That's just not right. I get that politics is a tough game, but nuclear safety should be our top priority. Like, what if this shutdown causes a real issue at one of those national labs?

I'm all for making some cuts, but furloughing 1,400 people? That's huge. And to blame it on Schumer? Come on, dude. It's not that simple. The NNSA is crucial for keeping our country safe, and we need those workers on the job, no matter what.

This shutdown is just another example of how politics can get in the way of doing what's right. We should be worried about people's lives, not ideology. Let's hope something gets done ASAP to get these workers paid and our nuclear safety back on track

Did you know that the NNSA's budget is around $15 billion a year? That's a lot of dosh for 1,400 employees to be furloughed! The administration claims it's about safety and security, but I think they're just winging it on this one . Meanwhile, the US nuclear stockpile is still intact... or so we hope . Here are some fun facts: did you know that there are over 2,000 nuclear warheads in the US arsenal? And the NNSA has a budget for cybersecurity measures to protect those nukes from hackers? That's like trying to keep a safe lock on a giant vault... no pressure! Anyway, I'm guessing the Trump admin will eventually cave under pressure (or maybe they'll just tweet about it ).

ugh this is getting crazy what's next nnsa staff without pay i mean come on who doesn't think that's a recipe for disaster nuclear materials everywhere and now they're furloughing people because trump says so i get it not everyone agrees but can't we just keep the country running smoothly for once?

This is so concerning. 1400 people are gonna lose their pay just cuz some politicians can't agree on stuff... what about the safety of our country? I mean, we have nukes and all, but it's not like they're ready to launch them anytime soon. Can't these folks find a way to compromise without putting lives at risk?

omg u guys can u believe this?? like nnsa staff are getting furloughed cuz of a gov shutdown and they dont get pay it's so unfair, i mean we have nasa and other govt agencies that deal with science & tech stuffs but the trump admin is all like "oh wut" when it comes to paying ppl who work on nuclear weapons

i feel bad for those 1400 ppl who r losin their income cuz of this shutdown plus its not just about them, there are people in ukraine and other conflict zones who r depending on nnsa's help with securing nukes & materials it's like the admin is putting ideology over safety & security concerns, which is so not cool

[Image of a nuclear mushroom cloud with a caption that reads: "nuclear power meets Trump's budget"]

[ GIF of a person holding a sign that says "I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right" while standing in front of a whiteboard with the NNSA logo on it ]

I feel so bad for these 1,400 workers who are going without pay! I mean, it's one thing to disagree with politicians, but to put people's lives on hold because of that is just not right. And what about the families of these workers? They're already dealing with the stress of a shutdown and now they have to worry about making ends meet because their partner isn't getting paid.

I don't think it's fair to blame Schumer for this, either. If Trump's administration really cares about national security, they should be finding a way to keep these workers employed. The nuclear program is so crucial, and I'm worried that if we slow down the modernization process, our country might become even more vulnerable to threats.

And what's with this "enough is enough" business? It sounds like an excuse for not having a plan B! We need to figure out how to keep these essential workers employed and ensure that our country stays safe.

This is getting outta hand... a 17-day shutdown already and now they're furloughing people who keep the country's nuclear safety on track . What's next? Is everything just gonna be okay if they just pretend it's not happening? And what's with Chris Wright tweeting like that? Sounds super informal for someone in his position... doesn't he have some kind of team to help him write statements or something?

I think this is a classic case of short-sighted policy-making. Furloughing nearly 1,400 NNSA employees without any clear plan for how to make up the lost time or pay seems like a recipe for disaster. The fact that only 400 workers are deemed "essential" raises questions about who determines which jobs are truly vital and why others were deemed non-essential.

The real concern here is not the ideological motivations behind the furloughs, but rather the potential consequences on nuclear safety and security. With the modernization of US nuclear weapons programs already underway, this shutdown could have serious implications for global security. It's imperative that we prioritize the welfare of our nuclear workers, many of whom are already struggling with reduced pay and benefits during this prolonged shutdown.