U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaking at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Feb 25, 2025. Wright announced forthcoming furloughs of federal nuclear weapons workers on Oct. 16, 2025.(Photo by Anna Padilla for Source New Mexico)
National Nuclear Security Administration employees could face layoffs as soon as Friday if the federal shutdown continues, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in an Oct. 16 appearance on Bloomberg TV, a message he reiterated to USA Today.
Following publication of this story, a Department of Energy spokesperson confirmed the furloughs to Source NM in a statement reading:
“Due to the Democrat shutdown, approximately 1,400 NNSA federal employees will be furloughed as of Monday, October 20th and nearly 400 NNSA federal employees will continue to work to support the protection of property and the safety of human life. NNSA’s Office of Secure Transportation remains funded through Oct. 27, 2025.” The statement also said Wright would appear in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday to further address the issue.
“We have not furloughed anyone yet, but we will be out of funds by tomorrow or early next week. So we will be forced to do that if this shutdown continues,” Wright said on Bloomberg. “We’ve been paying them to date, but starting tomorrow, Monday at the latest, we’re not going to be able to pay those workers, if that continues on for long, they may get other jobs,” Wright, putting the “the sovereignty of the country,” at stake…