Days away from a government shutdown, agencies’ contingency plans still unclear

Agencies Absent Shutdown Plans Ahead of Government’s Funding Deadline

Last updated Sep 25, 2025

TL/DR –

Agencies have not yet published their plans for a potential government shutdown despite the funding deadline being less than a week away. The situation this time is unique as the federal government has seen the departure of around 200,000 employees due to various factors, a situation that is expected to worsen in case of a shutdown. Critics warn that the shutdown would further increase service outages and customer service backlogs, create uncertainty among federal employees, and have potentially significant economic impacts.

Government Shutdown Contingency Plans Remain Unclear

Despite the looming government’s funding deadline, agencies have yet to publish their contingency plans for a potential government shutdown. Typically, these plans, outlining details of which employees would continue to work and which would be furloughed, are made available on the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) website. However, the page currently displays no information.

Early this year, the Trump administration removed all pre-existing contingency plans. These were generally updated every other year; the last update occurred during the Biden administration in 2023. The lack of public contingency plans leaves federal employee breakdowns unclear.

In a government shutdown, federal employees fall into various categories: excepted, furloughed, or exempt. Excepted and furloughed employees do not receive pay during a shutdown, though backpay is guaranteed due to a 2019 law. Exempt employees continue to work and get paid, as their agencies have other funding sources. Find more information on the impact of a shutdown here.

During Trump’s first term, the government experienced the longest partial shutdown in history, lasting 35 days. During this time, legislation was passed to guarantee backpay for furloughed and excepted employees.

Agencies have seen a significant reduction in federal employment numbers this year, with an expected total loss of over 300,000 by year-end. Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, warns that a shutdown would exacerbate service outages and customer service backlogs. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association predicts a higher cost for a shutdown this time due to the lack of allocated full-year funding. Doreen Greenwald, NTEU National President, emphasizes the detrimental impact of uncertainty on federal employees, even before a shutdown occurs.

Contact reporter Drew Friedman about federal government changes at drew.friedman@federalnewsnetwork.com

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