If you know anything about how this is possible... and if there are any downsides to this, it would be great if you could reach out and/or get on the 9:05 call tomorrow.
U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt told agency employees today to come to work next week, even if the federal government shuts down.
In an email this afternoon, he said the agency has enough funding to stay open for a short period of time. So EPA employees should stick to their work schedule and come into the office for all of next week.
"At this time EPA has sufficient resources to remain open for a limited amount of time in the event of a government shutdown. All EPA employees should follow their normal work schedule for the week of January 22, 2018," Pruitt said in the email, obtained by E&E News.
But the EPA chief cautioned that if the shutdown continues through next Friday, the agency will update the staff again on EPA's operating status. Further, Pruitt's office will have to sign off on travel.
"Should the shutdown occur and remain in place through January 26, 2018, we will provide further updates on the agency's operating status. In addition, all travel needs to be approved by the Administrator's Office," Pruitt said.
Under EPA's shutdown plan, updated last month, about 95 percent of its 14,000-strong workforce would be furloughed. Nevertheless, EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox warned earlier today that the agency's contingencies in the event of a shutdown remain in flux and the document doesn't reflect EPA's current plans (Greenwire, Jan. 19).
Other federal agencies are looking to keep as many of their services up and running as possible if a shutdown does occur. Department of Energy spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes said the department would be "open for business" come Monday, while the National Park Service hopes to keep public lands as accessible as possible to the public.
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