As the deadline for government funding looms, the White House Office of Management and Budget is taking steps to guide federal agencies in preparing for a potential shutdown. According to an administration official, additional guidance will be provided to agencies in the coming days.
The OMB document outlines the standard process for government shutdowns, emphasizing the need for ongoing communication until appropriations are enacted or a lapse in funding occurs.
Each government department and agency has its own shutdown plans in place, detailing factors such as the number of employees to be furloughed, essential personnel who would work without pay, operational wind-down procedures, and activities that would be affected.
These plans can vary from one shutdown to another, with agencies having had to prepare for multiple shutdowns in the last fiscal year due to funding uncertainties.
Previous government shutdowns have had varying impacts, including closures of national parks and museums, disruptions to IRS operations during tax season, and delays in federal lending programs. However, some agencies can sustain certain operations using alternative funding sources.
Notably, President Trump oversaw the longest government shutdown in four decades during his first term, which lasted 35 days and ended in January 2019 without funding for a border wall.
As the current funding deadline approaches, agencies are expected to update their shutdown plans, which will be made available to the public for transparency and preparedness.
