US agencies worried although Congress avoided shutdown

US agencies have stopped clearing fuel in heavily forested areas to prevent wildfire spread. A 45-day stopgap funding bill was passed just hours before agencies would have been forced to close, but employees say everything stops as the work process shifts gears.

The Office of Management and Budget formally kicked things off with a planning call with agency leaders on September 22. Agencies began notifying employees that a shutdown appeared likely and readying them for next steps.

Official notices were not expected to go out until after a funding lapse occurred, though informal conversations had already taken place to inform employees of their potential shutdown status. About 800,000 federal employees were set to be sent home.

The planning process for a potential shutdown is extensive, involving meetings across government offices to discuss the implications of a shutdown and details like handling absences. Employees spend 21,000 work hours in meetings preparing for the shutdown, which causes stress and adds to existing backlogs.