As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, the operator of the Pantex Plant issued a statement to clear up any confusion regarding its employees and any potential impact to the location near Amarillo.
“PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC (PXD) serves as the management and operating contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex Plant,” the statement reads. “Individuals working for PXD are not employees of the federal government. No PXD employees have been furloughed. Management and Operating Contractor operations have continued to date, and the overall safety and security of the site will continue to be maintained.”
USA TODAY had previously reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Oct. 16 that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the agency responsible for designing, building, maintaining and securing U.S. nuclear weapons, could be facing staff furloughs and layoffs for its contractors due to the shutdown.
About 750,000 total federal workers have been furloughed. That includes around 1,400 employees with NNSA on Monday, USA TODAY reported, while around 400 are continuing to work without pay to ensure the safety and security of the nuclear stockpile. On Oct. 24, thousands of federal workers impacted by the shutdown will miss their first full paycheck, according to USA TODAY.
In addition, low-income families across the U.S. who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sometimes known as food stamps, could be without assistance from the program in November. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the SNAP program, said earlier this month that there will not be enough funding to pay all benefits for November if the shutdown continues.
Pantex said any further questions or comments should be directed to the Department of Energy’s Public Affairs Department at the following e-mail address: doenews@hq.doe.gov
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Pantex Plant operator issues statement about shutdown
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
