NOTN- The State of Alaska is preparing to continue essential services and minimize disruptions in the event of a federal government shutdown, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office said today.
Dunleavy has directed state executive branch departments to review federally funded programs and create contingency plans to ensure critical services continue wherever possible. Some programs, such as Medicaid and Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, are expected to continue without interruption due to existing authorizations or advance funding.
Other programs may face adjustments depending on congressional action and guidance from federal agencies, officials said. Historically, Alaska has been able to keep most federally funded programs running during past shutdowns, and the state expects to do the same using available funds.
If a shutdown lasts beyond a month, the state said it will reassess and prioritize programs most directly affecting Alaskans’ life, health, and safety.
Roughly 4,800 state executive branch jobs are at least partly funded by the federal government. Those employees are expected to continue reporting to work and receiving pay for now, while a small number of federal employees embedded in state departments will follow their agencies’ shutdown procedures.
According to States Newsroom, the Trump administration began posting plans over the weekend that detail how hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed during a government shutdown, while others will keep working without being paid.
A shutdown will begin Wednesday unless Republicans and Democrats in Congress reach agreement on a stopgap spending bill. Congressional leaders were set to meet Monday afternoon with Trump, but it was unclear if any agreement would result that would avert a shutdown.
States newsroom also published a list of the departments that have posted updated contingency plans in September:
- Defense Department contingency plan
- Education Department contingency plan
- Health and Human Services contingency plan
- Homeland Security Department contingency plan
- Labor Department contingency plan
- Justice Department contingency plan
- State Department contingency plan
- Social Security Administration contingency plan
Here is a list of the departments that hadn’t posted updated contingency plans as of Monday afternoon:
- Agriculture Department contingency plan
- Commerce Department contingency plan
- Energy Department contingency plan
- Housing and Urban Development contingency plan
- Interior Department contingency plan
- Transportation Department contingency plan
- Treasury Department contingency plan
- Veterans Affairs Department contingency plan
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development has developed a FAQ to answer Unemployment Insurance questions from federal employees who may be furloughed.
