(MENAFN) US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has warned that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) could exhaust its remaining funds within eight days amid the ongoing government shutdown, forcing the suspension of operations that ensure the safety and oversight of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Speaking to a news agency on Thursday, Wright said, “Eight more days of funding, and then we have to go into some emergency shutdown procedures, putting our country at risk.”

The US federal government shut down for the first time in nearly seven years after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate failed to agree on a spending bill. Both a Republican proposal and a Democratic alternative fell short of the votes needed on Friday, with lawmakers now expected to make another attempt on October 6.

Wright accused Senate Democrats of stalling the confirmation of more than 20 officials in his department, saying the delays have worsened the funding crisis.

Before this year’s budget cuts, the NNSA employed over 65,000 federal workers and contractors across the country, responsible for maintaining the nuclear arsenal, overseeing non-proliferation programs, and supporting the US Navy’s nuclear operations.

According to the Energy Department’s latest shutdown plan, only staff involved in “critical control operations systems” and nuclear non-proliferation will remain on duty, though the agency has not disclosed how many employees will be retained.

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