WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the furlough of federal employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA):  

“Today, roughly 80% of the National Nuclear Security Administration is being furloughed. This is unacceptable. We cannot allow delays or interruptions to our nuclear programs during this shutdown. This is not a partisan issue, and for the sake of our national security, my Democrat colleagues should work with us to adopt the clean Continuing Resolution, which would immediately reopen the government and put an end to these risks. In the interim, it is incumbent upon Secretary Wright to work with Congress, OMB, and the White House to ensure that our nuclear weapons stockpile remains safe, secure, and capable of deterring our adversaries.”