CAGTC Members,
The Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 expired last night, January 19, at midnight. The continuing resolution (CR) was the third funding extension Congress has passed for fiscal year 2018 (FY18) to keep the federal government running. Congress failed to come to an agreement on the full appropriations package during the extension, and failed to pass another CR, shutting the federal government down. As a reminder, in order to announce FY18 INFRA grants, a full-year funding package is necessary. The most recent INFRA solicitation was seeking applications for the remaining FY17 FASTLANE money as well as the pot of FY18 funding that was agreed upon under the FAST Act. Furthermore, states will not see the FAST Act’s scheduled funding increase for the freight formula program until a full year’s funding bill is passed.
In terms of how relevant federal agencies will function during this shutdown, here’s what we can expect:
The last time this took place was in October 2013. During that 16 day closure, all nonessential departments and employees were furloughed, which amounted to about one third of its total workforce. USDOT has released its 2018 “Operations During a Lapse in Annual Appropriations Plans by Operating Administration.” This plan predicts that any future lapse in appropriations will lead to over 20,000 furloughed staff. The plan indicates that positions essential for life and safety, funded through means other than annual appropriations, or those that support lawful continuation of other functions are essential and therefore will continue to work during the shutdown. More information on how various USDOT silos will act according to this plan can be found below:
- Because the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are both funded through either multi-year appropriations, indefinite appropriations, or contract authority, they will remain open during the shutdown and “all operations [will] continue as normal.”
- The Federal Railroad Administration will see around half of its workforce furloughed and functions to be suspended include: all activities assigned to the Office of Railroad Policy & Development; FRA’s support to the Build America Bureau regarding the transition of administration for the RRIF program; and administration of grant, financial and technical assistance associated with FRA’s portfolio of competitive grant funds.
- The Maritime Administration will see a little under half its workforce furloughed, with suspended activities including: Environment and Compliance; Intermodal System Development; and Business and Finance development programs.
- The Office of the Secretary will see 423 staff furloughed while 1,158 would continue to work.
- The Office of the Inspector General will see 313 of their 416 total positions furloughed, with the only programs up and running being the hotline and crisis management center and law enforcement activities.
The Federal Maritime Commission and Surface Transportation Board released their own plans in case of a shut down, details below:
- FMC: All employees will be furloughed
- STB: All Board operations will be suspended and “all deadlines requiring the submission of material to the STB during the pendency of the shutdown are tolled.”
We will keep you updated as this process continues,
Katie Cross
Manager, Member Communications & Policy
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
1625 K Street NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
tradecorridors.org