WASHINGTON – Over the weekend, the Trump administration released plans detailing how a significant number of federal employees will be affected during an impending government shutdown, with many workers expected to continue their duties without pay.
This update presents a clearer view of how President Donald Trump, along with White House budget director Russ, intends to reduce the federal workforce’s size and influence. The shutdown will commence on Wednesday unless an agreement is reached between Congressional Republicans and Democrats regarding a spending bill. While Congressional leaders were slated to meet with Trump Monday afternoon, it remains uncertain if they will find common ground to prevent a closure.
During the shutdown, around 741,500 civilian employees will be required to work without pay—406,500 of whom may remain operational for required functions. Military service members, totaling approximately 2.1 million, will still carry on with their responsibilities but will not receive pay until after the shutdown concludes.
The Pentagon is focused on maintaining operations concerning security at the southern U.S. border and in the Middle East. Priorities during this period include American defense systems, depot maintenance, shipbuilding, and essential ammunition.
Medical and dental services, including private sector care via the TRICARE Healthcare Program, will mostly continue at the Department of Defense. However, elective surgeries and certain routine procedures could face delays unless they affect personnel readiness and deployment.
Thousands of HHS workers to be furloughed
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has plans in place to furlough nearly 32,500 of its 80,000 employees during the shutdown. Various branches within HHS, such as the CDC and the FDA, have different protocols for this situation.
For instance, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to keep about 3,311 employees active to continue essential payments for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The CDC anticipates retaining around 4,891 employees but will struggle to implement some programs essential for public health, such as various prevention initiatives.
Departments sharing their plans
Several departments have already updated their contingency plans:
- Department of Defense
- Education Department
- Health and Human Services
- Department of Homeland Security
- Labor Department
- Department of Justice
- Social Security Administration
- Department of Treasury
However, some departments, such as Agriculture, Commerce, and State, have yet to post their updated plans.
Officials from the departments not yet sharing their plans mentioned they are preparing for all potential operational challenges. Employees working without pay will receive retroactive compensation following the shutdown, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
Importantly, this provision does not extend to federal contractors, who may face uncertainty regarding their compensation during the shutdown.
