US Nuclear Agency Furloughs 1,400 Staff as Government Shutdown Drags Into Fourth Week

The agency tasked with safeguarding America’s nuclear arsenal began placing most of its staff on enforced leave Monday, as another congressional effort to end the government shutdown collapsed.

With the standoff nearing its fourth week, roughly 1,400 employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were issued unpaid furlough notices, according to an official.

“Due to the Democrat shutdown, approximately 1,400 NNSA federal employees will be furloughed as of today, October 20, 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 NNSA, which oversees about 60,000 contractors, is responsible for designing, manufacturing, maintaining, and securing the US nuclear weapons stockpile — currently estimated at 5,177 warheads, with about 1,770 deployed, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

CNN reported that the initial furloughs are affecting critical facilities, including the Pantex Plant in Texas and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee — both central to the nation’s nuclear weapons program.

Now entering its 20th day, the current impasse marks the longest full government shutdown in US history.

President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Democrats to support a Republican-backed measure to reopen the government, warning of escalating layoffs and cuts to public services if the deadlock continues.
“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.

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNBC he expected the shutdown to end “some time this week,” but warned of “stronger measures… to bring [Democrats] to the table” if it persisted.

Democrats have conditioned their support for a House-passed funding resolution on the renewal of expiring health care subsidies covering 24 million Americans. Senate Republicans have offered a vote on the issue, but Democrats insist any deal must have the backing of both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

A Senate vote Monday evening on the House resolution failed — the 11th such attempt to reopen the government. Johnson has vowed to keep the House closed until the shutdown ends; it has been out of session since September 19.

“Every day that the government is shut down, it is a danger to the American people,” Johnson said when asked about the NNSA furloughs. He warned that setbacks in nuclear modernization could pose a “very serious” threat to US national security and its standing as “the last great superpower.”

Democrats, meanwhile, are betting that voters will blame Republicans for potential spikes in health insurance premiums and lapses in coverage projected to hit millions in 2026 if subsidies are not renewed.

“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 said. “No one can afford those types of increases.”

Federal employees, typically paid biweekly, are expected to miss a full paycheck on Thursday for the first time during this shutdown. Lawmakers are also under pressure to ensure continued pay for US troops, with the Senate expected to consider related legislation later this week — though it remains unclear whether it will secure enough Democratic support.