An anonymous source in Huntsville- who asked to not be identified- estimates that about 400 workers in the Huntsville-Decatur-Madison are have been fired since Obama announced the cancellation of Constellation. That estimate is off-the-cuff, but apparently some subcontractors and support firms are letting people go at least until the Congressional budget battle is over.

It's hard to blame a smaller company for cutting their work force before the air clears. If Obama is successful, those contractors will need to be prepared to either bid for new work or dissolve.