WASHINGTON -- Much More when compared in order to a third involving federal workers will be told to ...

1. Government Shutdown Looms, Forcing Agencies To Draw Up
Plans For Furloughs
WASHINGTON -- Much More when compared in order to a third involving federal workers will be
told to stay residence if the government shuts down, forcing the particular closure regarding
national parks through California in order to Maine along with all involving the Smithsonian
museums. Low-to-moderate income borrowers as well as first-time homebuyers seeking government-backed
mortgages could encounter delays.
These would be just a couple of of the results of a government shutdown which could furlough as
numerous as 800,000 of the nation's 2.1 million federal workers. It could hit as early as Tuesday if
your bitterly divided Congress does not approve a new temporary shelling out bill for you to keep the
government running.
Supervisors with government departments began conferences Thursday to choose which employees
would continue to document in order to work as well as which usually could be considered
nonessential as well as advised for you to stay residence under contingency plans ordered through
the office of Management and Budget, or perhaps OMB.
Details with regards to shutdown plans regarding each and also every agency had been expected to
be posted on the OMB and also individual agency websites through Friday afternoon, according to
union officials briefed on the process. Formal furlough notices could be sent upon Tuesday, first
regarding the manufacturer new fiscal year.
"Fifty percent of our members may always be locked unemployed altogether in the particular course
of this shutdown," mentioned J. David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation involving
Government Employees. "Half is going to be expected to still work without the paycheck."
Employees who are deemed important and also keep operating will not become paid out throughout
the shutdown. once Congress can approve new funding, they will would receive retroactive pay.
Not all government would cease in order to operate. services considered critical to always be able to
national security, safety along with health would carry on as usual, like border patrol, law
enforcement and emergency and also disaster assistance. Social security and Medicare rewards
would keep coming, regarding example, however there most likely would be delays throughout
processing new disability applications.
Active-duty military personnel are usually exempt from furloughs, as are employees of the U.S.
Postal Service, which doesn't depend upon annual appropriations via Congress.
Union officials said preparations for any feasible shutdown have formulated anxiety and also
uncertainty amongst federal workers and also among people who provide an expectation of
government services.
"Federal agencies have were necessary to dedicate time and resources to develop yet yet another
crisis plan, distracting agencies through their own critical missions," mentioned Colleen Kelley,
president in the National Treasury Employees Union. "And, when the government shuts down, the

2. particular public will be further harmed from the loss involving essential services people need and
depend upon."
The last shutdown, which in turn took place through the Clinton administration, lasted 3 weeks, via
Dec. 16, 1995, for you to Jan. 6, 1996.
At the Smithsonian, a majority with the 6,400 employees with 19 museums could be furloughed,
mentioned spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas. Museum doors would remain closed as of 10 a.m.
Tuesday, ruining vacation plans pertaining to thousands of tourists expecting to start to determine
the National Air and also space Museum or view artwork from among the actual museum's galleries.
The National Park Services was expected to end up being able to announce the particular impact of
your shutdown on Friday. The contingency strategy prepared in 2011 - the final occasion a new
shutdown loomed - said most 401 of the country's national parks would close and cease activities
except for anyone required to reply in order to emergencies.
Federal courts plan to maintain operations likely with regard to no less than 10 company times
within the event of your shutdown - roughly by means of Oct. 15 - making use of service fees as well
as other funds. but following that, only essential function would continue, and every court would
know what staff is needed, based on the Sept. 24 memo through U.S. District Judge John Bates,
director in the Administrative office of the Usa Courts.
Federal jury trials ought to carry on as necessary, your memo said, along with staff performing
essential work on federal courts would document in order to function without having obtaining paid.
they will be paid out when appropriations had been restored.
Most with the Department involving Housing and Urban Development's operations would cease
beneath your shutdown, in accordance with Jereon Brown, the HUD spokesman. Which means many
low-to-moderate earnings borrowers and also first-time homebuyers seeking government-backed
mortgages could confront delays. The Actual Federal Housing Administration, that is overseen by
HUD, defintely won't be in the situation to underwrite or even approve virtually any new loans
throughout the shutdown, Brown said.
The Environmental Protection Agency would essentially be closed to nearly all of its approximately
17,000 employees, except for anyone involved with shutting down systems, tasked with emergency
cleanups as well as performing legal are employed in ongoing federal cases, said John O'Grady,
president with the local union involving EPA employees inside Chicago.
NASA is nevertheless operating upon shutdown plans, however the agency doesn't use a launch
scheduled until Nov. 6, spokesman Bob Jacobs said. nearly all nevertheless several hundred in the
area agency's 18,000 employees would be furloughed below a new contingency strategy discussed
throughout 2011.
In past shutdown threats, the area agency considered crucial the particular operations with the
International Room Station, where astronauts and also cosmonauts live, and planned for you to
continue supporting your mission in the huge event the government had shuttered, Jacobs said.

3. ___
Associated Press writers Frederic J.
Frommer, Matthew Daly, Seth Borenstein,
Andrew Miga as well as Deb Riechmann
contributed to always be able to this report.