On October 1, the federal government shut down after Congress failed to pass funding legislation for fiscal year 2026. During government shutdowns, federal agencies reduce operations, which results in employee furloughs that limit the agencies’ ability to provide services. As a result, agencies publish contingency plans before shutdowns. These plans outline how many employees will be furloughed or required to work without pay, as well as which operations will continue and which will stop.
Department of Education
The Department of Education’s (ED) contingency plan shows that 1,485 of its 1,700 employees, excluding the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), will be furloughed. At FSA, 632 of 747 employees will be furloughed.
According to the plan, ED will continue disbursing student aid, including Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans; making Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant funding available; and carrying out certain rulemakings and other legally required actions under the 2025 budget reconciliation bill. The department will stop awarding new grants; pause reviews and investigations into civil rights complaints at the Office for Civil Rights (OCR); and halt development and implementation of guidance, technical assistance and regulatory actions unless required by law.
Department of Labor
The Department of Labor (DOL)’s contingency plan shows that approximately 9,775 of its 12,916 employees will be furloughed.
The plan states that the department will continue activities funded by non-annual appropriations, including enforcement under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It will also continue providing worker benefits under entitlement programs, protecting life and property in cases of imminent threat, and carrying out functions authorized by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of Justice.
The plan specifies that the following agencies will shut down: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Veterans Employment and Training Service, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Office of Disability Employment Policy, Women’s Bureau, Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), Administrative Review Board, Benefits Review Board and Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board. It also states that, unless funded through non-annual appropriations or considered an excepted activity, all worker protection agency investigations will stop unless they address fatalities, catastrophes or imminent danger. In addition, agencies will suspend technical assistance, compliance support, regulatory work, policy development, research, advisories, responses to inquiries, most oversight, hearing preparation and cooperative activities.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
According to its contingency plan, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will furlough 1,686 of its 1,814 employees. During the shutdown, the EEOC will continue docketing charges and complaints, litigating lawsuits where continuances have not been granted, and performing necessary administrative support for excepted functions. However, the EEOC will not investigate charges or complaints, conduct hearings or mediations, process Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests or respond to public inquiries.
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)’s plan shows that it will furlough 1,181 of its 1,195 employees. The shutdown will suspend most citizen services, including representation case petition docketing, investigations, hearings and elections; unfair labor practice case processing; court litigation; issuance of Administrative Law Judge and NLRB decisions; resolution of workplace and union disputes; and remedial actions such as back pay, reinstatement and bargaining orders.
Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security’s plan shows that most employees will remain on duty (249,065 out of 271,927). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is funded primarily by immigration filing fees, will retain 21,568 of its 22,408 employees. USCIS will continue processing applications and petitions for immigration benefits.
Department of State
The Department of State’s plan shows that 10,436 of its 27,300 employees will be furloughed. The department will continue operating consular services both domestically and abroad, including visa processing.
CUPA-HR’s government relations team will continue monitoring updates related to the shutdown and congressional efforts to pass funding legislation.