As shutdown looms, federal agencies have no public plans for one

"Typically, agencies publicly post their "contingency plans" in advance of a potential shutdown that detail which workers would be furloughed and which would remain on the job. Large swaths of the federal workforce are exempted from shutdown furloughs due either to the nature of their jobs or because they are funded through means other than annual appropriations. Under existing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget dating back to the Obama administration, agencies are expected to update their plans at least every two years."

"A Government Executive analysis of the most recently available data showed the Biden administration planned to furlough about 737,000 employees if a shutdown occurred in 2023, or about one-third of the workforce. Typically, departments such as Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security and Justice send home very few employees because most of their workers are deemed necessary to protect life or property. The Education Department, NASA and Environmental Protection Agency, meanwhile, have furloughed the vast majorities of their workforces."

Federal agencies face an impending funding lapse in eight days that could force office closures and uncertain furloughs for unspecified employees. Agencies historically publish contingency plans specifying which workers would be furloughed and which would remain on the job. Large portions of the federal workforce are exempted from furloughs due to job duties or alternative funding sources. OMB guidance requires agencies to update plans every two years; OMB removed public plans earlier this year and has not restored them. An analysis found the administration planned to furlough about 737,000 employees in a 2023 shutdown, roughly one-third of the workforce.

Read at Nextgov.com