ENERGY SECRETARY WARNS OF IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Energy Secretary Chris Wright told USA Today that tens of thousands of critical workers could be sent home starting next week.
Staff at the agency were told that furloughs, or unpaid leave, could begin as early as Friday, according to employees cited by the newspaper.
“These are people who ensure our nuclear systems remain safe and secure,” Wright said. “Any disruption has national security implications.”
US NUCLEAR STOCKPILE AT STAKE
The United States maintains an estimated 5,177 nuclear warheads, about 1,770 of which are deployed, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
The NNSA is responsible for designing, manufacturing, servicing and securing those weapons, a mission seen as critical to US deterrence and strategic stability.
With funding now nearly exhausted, lawmakers face mounting pressure to reach a deal before vital defence and energy operations begin to shut down.
