HHS government shutdown contingency plans: What to know

The federal government has shut down, as Congress and the Administration failed to agree on annual funding bills for federal agencies or on a continuing resolution that would keep the government open while they finalize the fiscal year 2026 funding bills. We anticipate that the Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies will follow the contingency plan released Sept. 29, which outlines department and agency activities that will continue through the shutdown period and those activities that will not continue during the lapse period. The plan also provides details about which federal employees will be retained or furloughed during the shutdown. A memo from the Office of Personnel Management provides details on how federal employees are impacted based on their employment status, including those who may receive reduction in force notices.