• The U.S. nuclear weapons agency faces potential furloughs affecting up to 80% of its workforce.
• Energy Secretary warns that modernization of the nuclear arsenal may be slowed due to staffing cuts.
• The shutdown is now in its third week, with lawmakers deadlocked on government funding.
• About 1,400 workers at the NNSA are expected to be furloughed if no resolution is found.
• Concerns arise over national security implications of reduced staffing at the nuclear weapons agency.

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has led to warnings that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) could furlough up to 80% of its workforce. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers expressed concern that "these are not employees you want to go home" as they are responsible for managing the nation's nuclear arsenal, which plays a crucial role in national security, according to CBS News and Channel News Asia.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated that the impending furloughs would affect about 1,400 staff members, with approximately 400 remaining to perform essential functions during the shutdown. Wright noted that many critical positions involve the modernization of the nuclear arsenal and should not be compromised. "We’re just getting momentum there," he stressed, as the NNSA oversees about 60,000 contractors in charge of maintaining and securing the U.S. nuclear stockpile, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The potential furloughs come as the shutdown enters its third week, with lawmakers still unable to reach a funding agreement. The Senate has seen repeated failed attempts to pass a Republican-backed funding measure, leading to increasing frustration among agency officials. Wright has warned that the lack of funding has immediate implications for national security operations, emphasizing the importance of the NNSA's mission in coordinating the safety and security of nuclear materials globally, including situations concerning Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict, according to CBS News, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.

As the situation develops, experts, such as Daryl Kimball from the Arms Control Association, have criticized the administration for not ensuring the necessary funding to maintain agency staffing levels, arguing that the essential functions of the NNSA are critical to the safety and security of nuclear facilities. The total costs for modernizing U.S. nuclear forces are projected to rise significantly, making the case for continuous funding more urgent, as noted by Al Jazeera and Reuters.