Overview
- The National Nuclear Security Administration began its first furloughs during a funding lapse, sending about 1,400 federal employees home and retaining roughly 375–400 for safety and security.
- The Office of Secure Transportation is funded only through Oct. 27, and sources warn weapons movements could be disrupted if the lapse persists.
- Assembly sites such as Pantex in Texas and Y-12 in Tennessee are being placed in safe shutdown, pausing routine work that requires large teams.
- Contractors continue limited work using recently authorized funds but could run out as soon as Oct. 28, risking halted modernization and delayed deliveries to the Defense Department.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited the Nevada National Security Site, where 68 federal staff were furloughed, as officials stress the stockpile remains secure today but warn prolonged pauses will degrade modernization, surveillance and workforce retention.