US Nuclear Weapons Agency to Begin Furloughs, Energy Chief Warns.

The article discusses the potential furlough of workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) due to a government shutdown, as stated by Energy Secretary Chris Wright. He indicated that if the shutdown persists, approximately 100,000 contract workers may be unable to receive pay, which could hinder the agency's efforts to modernize the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal and impact national security. The NNSA, a semiautonomous branch of the Energy Department, is responsible for various critical functions, including the production and dismantling of nuclear arms and responding to nuclear emergencies. Wright emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the furloughs would be staggered and that affected workers would not receive back pay. [Extracted from the article]