Partial government shutdown impacts safety-critical agencies

Portions of the U.S. Federal Government shut down at midnight Jan. 31 after Congress failed to pass legislation to distribute FY 26 appropriations.

Impacted safety-critical agencies include:

• In the Department of Labor (DOL):
  • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA)
• In the Department of Transportation (DOT):
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• In the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

“It is our hope that this lapse will be short,” said Russell T. Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, in a Jan. 30 memorandum. “The [Trump] Administration will continue working with the Congress to address recently raised concerns to complete appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026.”

Unlike the October 2025 shutdown, not all operations have paused. Funding was allocated for the departments of Commerce, Justice, & Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior & Environment mid-January.

Other agencies with occupational safety functions not impacted by the shutdown include the departments of Agriculture (USDA), Energy (DOE), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Associated Press reported essential functions are continuing for other departments, but federal employees may work without pay or be furloughed depending on the length of the shutdown.

FEMA continuing response to extreme cold, winter weather

The crux of the remaining departmental funding is DHS. Following two shooting deaths by ICE agents in January, Democrats have called for changes to immigration enforcement laws before they will approve the bill for DHS.

President Trump and Congress agreed Jan. 29 to separate DHS funding from a larger spending bill and fund the department for two weeks while debates continue.

AP sources indicated FEMA - which is a part of DHS - probably has $7 to $8 billion in its Disaster Relief Fund even without additional funding. FEMA is supporting state-led responses to the Jan. 31-Feb. 1 winter storm, which impacted homes and businesses across the country.

Trump approved emergency declarations for 12 states, providing federal support for emergency measures and debris removal. The agency positioned food, water, and supplies across multiple states and coordinated help from other federal agencies

The DHS funding bill approved by the House of Representatives Jan. 22 - but failed in the Senate - would have provided $26 billion to the Disaster Relief Fund and $4 billion for other FEMA activities.

FAA furloughs 10K air traffic controllers, others work without pay

The DOT’s contingency plan for the partial government shutdown involves the FAA furloughing 10,552 employees, while retaining 13,835 air traffic controllers without pay.

Other safety-critical aviation activities will continue, including ATC hiring and training, issuance of Airworthiness Directives, maintenance and operation of navigational aids, inspections and certifications, and on-call accident investigations.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will continue rail accident investigations, safety-critical inspections and regulatory compliance enforcement.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) will continue to address imminent hazards to the safety of human life and protection of vessels of the U.S. Government.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will retain all employees and continue operations as normal during the shutdown.

OSHA & MSHA continue inspections and investigations

Under the DOL’s contingency plan for the partial government shutdown, OSHA and MSHA will continue the same safety-critical activities as they did during the Oct. 2025 shutdown.

OSHA will continue inspections and investigations, including responding to whistleblower complaints and fatality investigations.

MSHA will continue inspections and enforcement activities, including regularly-scheduled inspections and targeted investigations and response to safety complaints.