The head of the U.S. Department of Energy, Chris Wright, warned that the federal government shutdown has left the National Nuclear Safety Administration with only eight days of funding to maintain the country’s nuclear arsenal. The agency, responsible for overseeing nuclear stockpiles and critical military systems like submarine engines, faces emergency measures if funds run out, according to statements made on October 3.
Wright described the situation as “absurd and ineffective,” highlighting the immediate threat to national security. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has forced non-essential federal employees into unpaid leave while critical staff continue work without pay. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to discuss cutting funding for Democratic-aligned agencies during a meeting with Russell Vaught, director of the Office of Administration and Budget.
The U.S. Senate rejected a Democratic proposal to fund the government on October 2, followed by a Republican-backed measure that failed to resolve the deadlock. The crisis underscores deepening political divisions in Congress, leaving key national operations vulnerable.
