NFFE Government Shutdown Center

December 20, 2024 1:00 PM ET update:

NEW OPM Guidance

December 20, 2024 9:00 AM ET update:

Yesterday, the first bipartisan deal to keep the government open collapsed following Elon Musk’s pressure campaign and a late-breaking demand from President-elect Trump to suspend the debt limit or eliminate it entirely before he takes office.

A revised second bill that had the approval President-elect Trump also failed to pass the House later on Thursday.

Today, Republican House leadership will present a new funding plan to Congress. If a deal is not agreed to by midnight tonight, the government will shut down.

NFFE is following this situation very closely and will be meeting with OPM this afternoon. This page will be updated with additional guidance and information as it becomes available.

As a reminder, NFFE fought hard to pass the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act which ensures that in the event of a funding lapse, all furloughed employees will receive their pay retroactively upon the government reopening. However, while passing this law was a great victory for federal employees, it does little to bring financial relief to workers for the duration of a shutdown.

In addition to preparing personal finances to cover bills and other expenses a shutdown, NFFE recommends the following steps to stay safe at work and stay in touch if forced to into a furlough:

Report to Work as usual unless your agency informs 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.
Write to Congress telling them NO to a government shutdown.
Call Congress at 855-222-9093 and demand that they fund the government and keep it running.
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.
Review 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 feea.org.