Federal Government Shuts Down, Furloughs at Health Agencies Begin

The U.S. federal government began a shutdown today after Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a temporary spending package to fund the government through November. The shutdown will lead to employee furloughs and the discontinuation of activities at several agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will retain 35.88% of its staff, including those who are exempt (their activities or position are already funded or otherwise exempt) and those whose work is “necessary for the safety of human life, protection of property or ‘necessarily implied’ from the authorized continuation of other activities.” The agency will suspend activities related to public health guidances, research, surveillance and communications. The shutdown will also affect funding support for programs, reports and grants nationwide.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will retain 53% of its staff, including those who are exempt or whose duties are deemed necessary by implication. The agency will suspect activities related to health care facility survey and certification, policy and rulemaking, contract oversight, outreach and education, and beneficiary casework.

Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration will retain approximately 86% of its staff. Operations will continue “to the extent permitted by law,” focusing on “activities necessary to address imminent threats to the safety of human life and activities funded by carryover user fee funds.” These include responding to foodborne illness and flu outbreaks, managing high-risk recalls, investigating imminent threats, screening imported food and medical products, and continuing essential surveillance and enforcement. The agency will not be able to accept any regulatory submissions for FY 2026 that require a fee payment submitted during the shutdown period.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will retain 24.5% of its staff who “perform vital tasks related to imminent threats to human health or life.” The agency will pause all grant peer-review meetings, advisory council meetings, issuance of new awards and program/grants management activities. The agency will pause basic and translational research conducted by NIH scientists. The shutdown will also affect scientific meetings at NIH facilities and travel of NIH scientists to scientific meetings.