All 68 federal employees at the Nevada National Security Site have been furloughed due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed Monday. The move marks the first mass furlough in the 23-year history of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), raising serious concerns about national security and workforce retention.
The NNSA, responsible for securing and modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile, has furloughed 1,400 federal employees across its operations, leaving only 400 still on the job nationwide. In Nevada, over 3,000 contracted workers remain—at least for now. Contractors cannot legally be furloughed, but they will begin missing paychecks once funds dry up at the end of the month.
“These are jobs of great gravity,” said Wright. “We need to maintain our nuclear stockpile, have our adversaries confident that we have our stuff together.” He warned that a prolonged shutdown could drive skilled workers to find new jobs, weakening the national security workforce.
The site, located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, plays a vital role in nuclear transportation, security, modernization, and defense against terrorist misuse. Without federal staff, its operations are significantly hampered.
Wright said the Department of Energy “did some gymnastics” to keep contract pay flowing temporarily but stressed the situation is unsustainable. Across the DOE, 59% of employees have already been furloughed.
Congress remains deadlocked. Despite 11 Republican-led attempts to pass a continuing resolution, Democrats continue to hold out for renewed health care tax credits. The latest vote failed 50–43, with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) crossing the aisle in support. Her colleague, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), voted no.
Wright praised Cortez Masto and urged Rosen to join efforts to reopen the government: “I plead to Sen. Rosen… move her vote from ‘abstain’ to in favor of continuing the funding.”
