USA Shutdown

[Cheshire]

As shown on the attachment - PDF, HHS’ contingency plans for agency operations in the absence of appropriations would lead to furloughing 40,959 staff and retaining 40,956 staff as of day two of a near-term funding hiatus. Put another way, 50% of HHS employees would be on furlough, and 50% would be retained. These percentages vary among HHS’ agencies and offices, with grant-making and employee-intensive agencies (e.g., the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), the Administration for Community Living (ACL), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) having the vast majority of their staff on furlough, and agencies with a substantial direct service component (e.g., the Indian Health Service (IHS)) having most of their staff retained.

Activities that would not continue include:
[...]

• NIH – NIH would not admit new patients (unless deemed medically necessary by the NIH Director), or initiate new protocols, and would discontinue some veterinary services. NIH will not take any actions on grant applications or awards.
• CDC – HHS would use the full extent of the authority under the ADA to protect life and property under a lapse in appropriations. CDC's immediate response to urgent disease outbreaks, including seasonal influenza, would continue. To continue ongoing influenza surveillance, CDC would collect data being reported by states, hospitals, and others, and report out critical information needed for state and local health authorities and providers to track, prevent and treat the disease. For disease surveillance activities not directly related to protection of life and limiting disease progression, limits on CDC staff resources under the lapse would result in more time to review, analyze, and report out public health information. CDC would be unable to support most non-communicable disease prevention programs, continuous updating of disease treatment and prevention recommendations, and technical assistance, analysis, and other support to state and local partners.

https://www.hhs.gov/about/budget/fy...taffing-plan/index.html#summary-of-activities

Also this:

and

 

[MeSci]

Anyone else not familiar with 'furlough' (as I wasn't) it's:

"a temporary leave of employees due to special needs of a company, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole. These involuntary furloughs may be short or long term, and many of those affected may seek other temporary employment during that time."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furlough

 

[Cheshire]

 

[Inara]

What, is this real?!

 

[Wonko]

I understood this was practically a yearly event these days, so I'm not sure what the significance of it is.

 

[Inara]

I see, @Wonko, thanks