The outlines of next week’s possible government shutdown have started to take shape as government agencies roll out their contingency plans.

To get ready, agencies have been identifying services, programs and workers deemed essential, or “excepted” in official speak. Translation: Workers in the business of protecting life and property. They will continue working, though they won’t be paid until after the shutdown.

Employees whose jobs are funded by money other than the annual appropriations that Congress is fighting over will keep working as well. So too will presidential appointees.

But all other programs deemed to be non-essential, or “non-excepted,” will be shuttered. And workers at those programs will be furloughed without pay. via Government rolls out shutdown plans – Sep. 27, 2013.

OIG Shutdown Plan

Per OMB Circular A-11 Section 124
• Estimate the time (to the nearest half-day) to complete the shutdown.
– The OIG estimates that it will take no more than a full day to complete the shutdown.
– Our shutdown team will consist of 19 employees.
o Contracts, Accounting, Budget, and Human Resources (9 employees)
o IT Personnel (8 employees)
o Security (2 employees)
• Number of employees expected to be on-board before implementation of the plan.
– The OIG will have 1136 employees on board before implementation of the plan.

• Total number of employees to be retained under the plan.
– The OIG will retain 19 employees which includes the following:
o To protect life and property
 Inspector General
 Deputy Inspector General
 IG Executive Assistant
 Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Investigations
 7 Special Agents (1 per field office; additional Special Agents will be called as warranted for court appearances or other emergency, with express approval of AIGI)
 8 IT personnel employees

Shutdown Procedures:
1. Immediately after receiving notification from OMB the Postal Service OIG will:
a. Issue furlough letters via e-mail to all non-excepted employees informing them they will be placed in a non-pay status and should not report to work effective the first day of the furlough period.
b. Communicate via e-mail to all excepted (retained) employees they should report to work as usual.
c. Communicate via e-mail to all non-excepted employees on business travel to immediately make arrangements to return home and submit travel vouchers by 12:00 pm of the next business day.
d. Put all OIG employees in non-pay status effective the first day of the furlough period.
e. Notify the Postal Service (Accounting) to discontinue payment processing immediately.
f. Notify all contractors to discontinue work.

2. By 12:00 pm EST, the first day of furlough:
a. Ensure all OIG property is secure
b. Release employees responsible for shut-down to stop work.

I. Shutdown Communication
A. Communication to Employees
– Immediately after receiving notification from OMB, the OIG will issue furlough letters via email to all employees – placing employees in a leave without pay (LWOP) status effective immediately. The letters will also advise employees of how to determine when to return to work.
– Any paid leave (annual, sick, court, etc.) approved for use during the furlough period is cancelled.
– If shutdown occurs, OIG employees are instructed to go to www.uspsoig.gov for operating status and further instruction.
– OIG will also utilize its emergency notification system to contact employees with instructions as needed.
1. Excepted Employees (IG, DIG, IG Executive Assistant, AIGI, and 7 Special Agents (1 per field office as determined by the AIGI)
o will be informed to continue working
o will be paid for the time worked once Congress ends the shutdown and our FY2014 budget is passed
o may not use leave to compensate for work days
o may not participate in scheduled/nonscheduled training

2. Non-Excepted Employees:
o will be informed to discontinue working. Any unauthorized OIG work will be considered to be outside the scope of the employee’s employment.
o may not use leave to compensate for non-work days.
o may not participate in scheduled/nonscheduled training during shutdown
o may not engage in business travel
o may not use any OIG communication devices to conduct OIG work related activities ( laptops, Blackberries, iPhones, VPN, OIG portal)
o Congress will determine whether furloughed employees will receive retroactive pay
B. Communication to Contractors
– Contracts Office will notify all vendors/suppliers to stop work.
C. Employees in a Travel Status
– Employees in a travel status must cease travel and return home immediately.
– Travel vouchers must be submitted in eTravel by 12:00 pm EST of the next business day, after the official shutdown, or may not be submitted until the end of the furlough period.

D. End of Shutdown
– Continue to watch your local news for updates on the status of the federal government shutdown
– Continue to check the OIG website www.uspsoig.gov periodically for updated information on the government reopening.

via USPS OIG Shutdown Plan to OMB