Federal Shutdown Guidance
Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FY2026 Lapse Plan outlines procedures for maintaining essential operations during a lapse in federal funding, ensuring continuity in critical services such as food safety inspections, nutrition assistance, and agricultural research. It details orderly shutdown protocols, identifies exempt and excepted activities across USDA agencies, and provides guidance for resuming normal operations once funding is restored. The plan emphasizes the protection of public health, safety, and property while supporting employees with clear instructions and contingency resources.
Department of Commerce
Plan for Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2025 Lapse Plan outlines procedures for an orderly shutdown of agency operations in the event of a lapse in congressional appropriations. Developed in accordance with OMB Circular A-11, Section 124, the plan identifies which functions may continue based on legal exceptions, such as those protecting life or property. It emphasizes compliance with the Antideficiency Act, which restricts unauthorized expenditures and voluntary services during funding lapses. The plan applies to all primary operating units and the Office of the Secretary, with tailored protocols for each, and incorporates guidance from the Department of Justice and Office of Legal Counsel to ensure continuity where legally permissible.
Department of Education
Contingency Plan for Lapse in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations
The Department of Education’s FY2026 Contingency Plan outlines procedures for maintaining essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations. It estimates that shutdown activities would take half a day and identifies which employees and functions are exempt or excepted under the Antideficiency Act. While most grantmaking activities would pause, the impact on schools and students is expected to be minimal because recent awards allow continued fund drawdowns. Title I and IDEA grants will remain accessible, and the Office of Federal Student Aid will continue select rulemaking and statutory actions. However, civil rights investigations and development of guidance and technical assistance would be temporarily suspended unless legally required.
Government Lapse in Appropriations – Federal Student Aid Processing and Customer Service Guidance
During a lapse in federal appropriations, the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) operations continue with minimal disruption to students, borrowers, schools, lenders, and guaranty agencies participating in Title IV programs. Most FSA processors, contact centers, and websites remain operational, including StudentAid.gov and 1-800-4-FED-AID, although updates to websites and responses from centers staffed by federal employees are paused until the government reopens. Loan servicing, billing, and deferment processing continue through federal loan servicers and the Default Resolution Group. Schools should expect delays in communications and processing from certain oversight branches, but core services remain accessible to ensure continuity in financial aid support.
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy’s September 2025 Lapse Plan states that during a funding lapse, only essential functions for safety, security, and the President’s constitutional duties will continue, while most other activities will stop. Some offices and the Bonneville Power Administration will keep operating due to special funding, and employees paid from non-annual appropriations will remain until those funds run out. All non-essential work will cease once available balances are exhausted.
Department of Health and Human Services
Contingency Staffing Plan for Operations in the Absence of Enacted Annual Appropriations
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FY2026 Contingency Staffing Plan outlines how the agency will maintain critical operations during a lapse in federal appropriations. The plan prioritizes protecting public health and safety by continuing activities funded through prior year appropriations, mandatory programs like Medicare, and user fees. It identifies categories of staff who will be retained under exceptions to the Antideficiency Act, including those necessary to protect life and property or perform legally authorized functions. HHS estimates that shutdown activities would take half a day and anticipates furloughing approximately 32,460 of its 79,717 employees while retaining others to support essential services such as disease monitoring by the CDC and mandatory health program payments.
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Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
- FY 2026 Lapse Plan Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
- The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) will continue all operations during a lapse in federal appropriations, supported by carryover balances from its three-year appropriations in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. As a result, 100 percent of ARPA-H’s 132 staff are considered exempt and legally permitted to continue working. No activities will be suspended, and no staff will be furloughed. This continuity ensures that ARPA-H’s mission to accelerate biomedical and health breakthroughs remains uninterrupted despite temporary funding gaps.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FY 2026 Lapse Plan Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- During the lapse in federal appropriations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will retain 4,891 staff to continue essential functions such as responding to urgent disease outbreaks and supporting programs like PEPFAR, the World Trade Center Health Program, and the Vaccines for Children initiative. However, 8,742 staff will be furloughed, and activities such as public health research, communication with the public, guidance to state and local health departments, and analysis of surveillance data will be suspended. Grant funding announcements will also be delayed, potentially compressing application timelines for universities and other applicants.
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Food and Drug Administration
- FY 2026 Lapse Plan Food and Drug Administration
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s FY2026 contingency plan outlines how the agency will maintain essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations. Activities funded through carryover user fees and other non-lapsed sources will continue, including regulation of drugs, medical devices, biosimilars, and tobacco products. FDA will also respond to public health emergencies, manage recalls, mitigate drug shortages, and conduct critical inspections and enforcement actions. However, many functions will be paused, such as accepting new drug and device applications requiring user fees, most unapproved prescription drug oversight, and compounded drug safety efforts unless tied to imminent threats. Research, policy development, and long-term food safety initiatives will also be suspended, significantly impacting FDA’s ability to protect and promote public health.
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National Institutes of Health
- FY 2026 Lapse Plan National Institutes of Health
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) FY2026 Contingency Staffing Plan outlines how the agency will maintain essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations. NIH will continue critical activities at its Clinical Center to ensure patient safety and care, including support for ongoing biomedical research and infrastructure protection. Approximately 4,477 staff (24.54%) will be retained—5 as exempt and 4,472 as excepted under legal provisions such as the Antideficiency Act and OMB Circular A-11 Section 124. Activities that will pause include grant peer review meetings, issuance of new awards, basic and translational research, training programs, and most administrative functions. The plan reflects NIH’s commitment to safeguarding human life and property while minimizing disruption to its core mission.
- NOT-OD-26-004 – Information for the NIH Extramural Community During the Lapse of Federal Government Funding
- During a lapse in federal government funding, NIH staff are unavailable to provide normal oversight and administrative support services, but recipients of prior awards may continue to draw funds if their awards allow it and the Payment Management System remains operational. Some restrictions may apply if awards have special terms or if drawdown requests trigger system controls. NIH eRA systems will be operational with limited support, but the eRA service desk and all central email boxes for policy and compliance will not be available. Communications by email, phone, fax, or postal mail will not be acted upon until operations resume, and applicants are advised to delay sending such communications. In emergencies involving human participant safety in NIH-funded research, a designated contact is provided for urgent issues.
Department of Homeland Security
Procedures Relating to a Lapse in Appropriations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 2025 contingency plan outlines procedures for an orderly shutdown of non-exempt functions during a lapse in federal appropriations. It defines exempt and excepted activities and employees under the Antideficiency Act and provides detailed protocols for closing operations, recalling staff if necessary, and maintaining essential services such as law enforcement, border protection, and emergency response. The plan includes component-specific guidance for agencies like FEMA, TSA, ICE, and the Coast Guard, and estimates staffing levels required to sustain critical operations while ensuring compliance with federal law and ethical standards.
Department of Interior
Updated Guidance on Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations
The U.S. Geological Survey’s September 2025 Contingency Plan describes how the agency will operate during a lapse in federal appropriations, with a half-day shutdown process and the suspension of all non-excepted and non-exempt operations. Essential functions to protect life and property, as well as activities funded by non-lapsing sources or no-year supplemental appropriations, will continue. Of the 6,776 employees, about 3,711 are expected to be furloughed, while 3,000 will remain due to alternative funding and a small number will be retained for critical duties. The plan ensures that emergency response, disaster-related projects, and core science support for resource management and public safety are maintained, while most other activities will pause until appropriations are restored.
Department of Justice
During a federal government shutdown, DOJ grant-making offices including the Office of Justice Programs, Office on Violence Against Women, and COPS Office will have staff on furlough and unavailable until further notice. Grantees may generally continue activities funded by existing DOJ grants, but any actions requiring federal approval, such as grant modifications or deliverable approvals, will be delayed until staff return. The Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), Grants.gov, and the System for Award Management (SAM) will remain operational for drawdowns and applications, but the JustGrants system and DOJ staff support will be unavailable. Grantee-sponsored events can proceed if federal participation is not critical, but no new events will be approved, and all monitoring visits or reviews will be postponed until after the shutdown ends.
Department of State
Updated Guidance on Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations
The Department of State’s updated lapse guidance outlines procedures for maintaining essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations, emphasizing compliance with the Antideficiency Act. It identifies “excepted” functions that may continue, including those necessary for national security and the protection of life or property. Each bureau is required to designate employees as excepted or non-excepted, review travel plans, and prepare for operational impacts based on available residual balances. Personnel such as civil service part-time staff and contractors must consult supervisors to determine work status. The guidance also encourages bureaus to minimize the number of excepted positions and to make advance payments where possible to reduce disruption during a funding lapse.
Department of War (Department of Defense)
Contingency Plan Guidance for Continuation of Operations in the Absence of Appropriations
The Department of War’s FY2026 contingency plan outlines procedures for maintaining essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations. It estimates that shutdown activities would take half a day and identifies categories of civilian employees who may be retained, including those funded by non-annual appropriations and those necessary to protect life and property. Approximately 223,889 civilian employees and 2,067,700 military personnel are expected to continue working during a lapse. The plan emphasizes that all activities chargeable to lapsed appropriations will cease unless legally excepted, and it provides illustrative guidance to help agencies identify which missions may continue. Ongoing military operations and national defense activities will proceed using available budgetary resources and legal exceptions.
Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s contingency plan outlines procedures for maintaining essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations, estimating a half-day shutdown process. Of the 15,166 employees on board, approximately 1,734 will be retained to support critical functions such as emergency response, law enforcement, Superfund site work, and protection of research and property. Activities funded by prior appropriations, user fees, and specific legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act will continue. The plan also ensures the secure operation of mission-critical IT systems and timely payments to contractors and grantees where funds are available. Non-essential activities such as issuing new grants, updating the EPA website, and conducting non-exempted research will be suspended during the lapse.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations
The VA Human Capital Contingency Plan for FY2026 outlines procedures for maintaining essential operations during a lapse in federal appropriations, ensuring uninterrupted care and services for Veterans and their families. Developed in accordance with OMB Circular A-11 and the Antideficiency Act, the plan identifies exempt and excepted functions that may continue, such as those protecting life and property or funded through non-annual appropriations. VA Administrations and Staff Offices reviewed their operations to designate critical roles and programs, aiming to minimize disruption through legal exceptions and strategic staffing. The plan applies to all VA personnel and contractors and reflects the agency’s commitment to continuity of mission despite funding challenges.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Continuity of Appropriations Plan
NASA’s FY2026 Continuity of Appropriations Plan outlines procedures for an orderly shutdown in the event of a lapse in federal funding, in compliance with OMB Circular A-11, Section 124. The plan estimates a half-day shutdown process and anticipates furloughing approximately 15,094 of its 18,218 employees, while retaining 2,830 for life and property protection and others under legal exceptions. Essential operations that will continue include International Space Station activities, satellite operations, and Artemis program development. NASA will also maintain space launch hardware processing and research activities where suspension could cause serious damage to property. Use of carryover funds will be restricted to presidential priorities, and all non-excepted functions will be suspended until appropriations are restored.
NASA’s Shutdown Guidance page provides employees with essential information and resources for navigating a lapse in federal appropriations. It includes the NASA Shutdown Furlough Guide, which supplements Office of Personnel Management (OPM) materials with agency-specific instructions, such as timecard coding, benefits continuity, and retirement procedures during furloughs. The page also links to frequently asked questions, federal guidance documents, and center-specific updates. NASA emphasizes that operations will continue for excepted activities like International Space Station support, satellite operations, and Artemis program development, while non-essential functions will be suspended until funding is restored. [NASA Guidance - NASA]
National Science Foundation
Plan for Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations
The National Science Foundation’s September 2025 shutdown plan outlines procedures for maintaining operations during a lapse in federal appropriations. NSF estimates a half-day shutdown process and anticipates furloughing approximately 1,054 of its 1,402 employees, while retaining staff funded by non-annual appropriations or those performing legally excepted functions. During the lapse, systems like Research.gov, Grants.gov, ACM$, and IPP will remain available for proposal submissions and payment processing. Recipients may continue work on NSF awards if funds are available and the award period remains active. NSF will issue individualized furlough notices and provide updates via its website and OPM channels to guide employees, contractors, and grantees through the shutdown period.
Legislative Operations
The Committee on House Administration’s 2025 guidance outlines procedures for House offices and legislative branch agencies during a lapse in federal appropriations. It explains that no funds may be disbursed from the Treasury without an enacted appropriations law and provides operational protocols for staffing, pay, benefits, and service levels. Each employing authority must determine which employees are essential or non-essential, consistent with the Congressional Accountability Act. The document includes sample notifications, furlough authorization forms, and expectations for access to House facilities and services, emphasizing that essential functions related to constitutional responsibilities and the protection of life and property will continue during the funding lapse.