US begins sending nuclear workers home as shutdown drags on
Some 1,400 NNSA federal employees are being placed on unpaid furlough as the US endures its longest full government shutdown ever
The agency responsible for safeguarding the US nuclear stockpile began placing most staff on enforced leave Monday, an official said, as yet another congressional vote to end the crippling government shutdown failed.
With the stand-off about to enter its fourth week, some 1,400 workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration were due to receive notices telling them they had been placed on unpaid furlough.
“Due to the Democrat shutdown, approximately 1,400 NNSA federal employees will be furloughed as of today, October 20th 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 United States has an arsenal of 5,177 nuclear warheads, with about 1,770 deployed, according to the global security non-profit Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
The NNSA, which oversees 60,000 contractors, is responsible for designing, manufacturing, servicing and securing the weapons.