As the federal government shuts down over a budget squabble in Congress, essential services such as Social Security and the military will continue to function, but what about regulatory agencies that monitor America’s businesses? Here’s a brief rundown:
NLRB: The National Labor Relations Board and its field offices all will be closed, though a few senior officials such as the Acting General Counsel are exempt from furloughing.
EEOC: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will staff 107 out of 2,164 employees nationwide, continuing most normal functions at a reduced level, though investigations and mediations will be put on hold.
WHD: The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor will basically cease functioning, with just six staff members not being furloughed.
USCIS: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, being funded mostly by sources (fees, etc.) other than appropriations, will see only 353 of 12,558 employees furloughed. Most functions will continue as usual.
OSHA: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will have 230 staff members available during the shutdown to deal mostly with emergencies involving “the safety of human life or protection of property.”
For further details, refer to the contingency plan by the Office of Management and Budget.