Again, we are on the brink of a federal funding lapse set to occur at the end of the day on Thursday, November 21st. Two legislative days remain before the current continuing resolution expires. The good news: House and Senate leaderships are optimistic that another short-term agreement was reached to keep agencies open through December 20th. The White House signaled that the president will sign the bill.
While the House and Senate have passed some of the appropriations bills needed for fiscal year 2020, more time is needed to pass the rest and then reconcile versions of the bills between chambers. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that he remains hopeful that fiscal year 2020 appropriations process can wrap up by the end of the calendar year.
“It is a shame that the appropriations process is so loaded up with politics that once again we are staring down the barrel of a government shutdown,” stated NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “If a shutdown happens during the holiday season, it will hurt millions of federal employees, contractors, and businesses that work with the federal government. Plus, it will cause chaos for the traveling public during the busiest time of the year, and damage the holiday consumer economy. Congress needs to get a spending bill done.”
If a shutdown happens:
REPORT TO WORK as usual unless your agency informed you in writing that you are officially furloughed. Otherwise, you risk an unexcused absence if you are not furloughed.
Sign up for alerts using your personal email HERE.
Follow NFFE on Facebook @NFFEunion, and Twitter @NFFE_Union
Gather personal phone numbers and non-gov emails to communicate with members.
Post this memo at your workplace and help spread the word.
Go over your personal finances and prepare for the possibility of delayed paychecks.
Help NFFE members with access to emergency loans through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), on which NFFE serves on the board of directors. For more information, visit the FEEA website at www.feea.org.
PRINT THIS MEMO
Additional resources from OPM: Unemployment Insurance Q&A, Shutdown Guide, Instructions to Agencies regarding pay and leave operations, Shutdown FAQ.