The ongoing federal government shutdown has led to widespread furloughs across multiple agencies, including the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the federal body responsible for overseeing the nation’s nuclear weapons program. On Monday, NNSA announced that approximately 1,400 employees had been placed on furlough due to the budget impasse.
Among those affected are around 50 workers at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas — the nation’s primary facility for the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of nuclear weapons. Laynee Buckels, Deputy Director of Communications for NNSA, confirmed to ABC 7 News that “about 50” Pantex employees received furlough notices.
The furloughs stem from a lack of congressional funding that has forced several federal agencies to suspend operations deemed nonessential. The notices, dated Sunday, inform employees that they will be placed in furlough status without pay for up to 30 days, expiring November 18. According to federal guidance, only employees involved in critical safety or security functions will continue working during the shutdown.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright reassured the public that national security remains uncompromised despite the staff reductions. “We have emergency employees and the current nuclear stockpile is safe,” Wright said, emphasizing that essential personnel remain on duty to maintain the security of sensitive facilities.
Approximately 400 federal workers will continue working at NNSA sites nationwide, supported by thousands of contractors who are not subject to the furlough order. These contractors perform critical functions ranging from security operations to technical maintenance.
At Pantex, operations have been somewhat insulated from the effects of the furlough due to the plant’s management structure. The site is operated by PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC (PXD), a private contractor that manages day-to-day activities under an agreement with the NNSA. Because PXD employees are not federal workers, they have not been affected by the government’s funding lapse.
In a statement, PXD clarified that its operations remain stable: “Management and operating contractor operations have continued to date, and the overall safety and security of the site will continue to be maintained,” said Steve Myers, Public Affairs Specialist for Pantex.
That assurance has helped ease concerns among employees and residents in the Amarillo area, where Pantex is a major employer and economic driver. The plant employs more than 3,000 people in total, including federal workers and contractor staff.
While the furloughs do not currently pose a direct risk to nuclear safety or national defense, prolonged funding gaps can disrupt maintenance schedules, research activities, and long-term modernization efforts within the NNSA. Previous shutdowns have shown that even short-term interruptions can delay critical projects and strain morale among federal employees.
For now, essential operations at Pantex continue, and federal officials maintain that safety remains the top priority. However, uncertainty persists as lawmakers in Washington continue to negotiate a path forward to reopen the government. If the shutdown extends beyond the initial 30-day furlough period, additional workforce and operational impacts could follow.
