United States and US Department of Energy flags fly near the department's headquarters on February 14 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Before the federal agency that builds nuclear weapons and safeguards the nation’s nuclear stockpile ran out of funding, officials there made an urgent request to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget: Use money from previously passed spending bills to prevent the agency from having to furlough its staff, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s request has not been fulfilled, the sources said, despite similar funding being used to pay US troops, Customs and Border Protection, US Coast Guard agents and other federal law enforcement officials.

Last week, NNSA furlough

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