Which federal workers stay and go during a shutdown?

From NBC's Pete Williams
Federal agencies are going through the agony of deciding who's essential and who isn't. Those considered non-essential are discovering that no matter how loyal or patriotic they may be, it will be a violation of federal law for them to come to work if there's a shutdown.

Federal law bars the government from spending money for expenses that haven't been approved. That means if a shutdown leaves a government agency without money, employees cannot come to work and thereby create an obligation for the government to pay them.

There's an exception to the law, however, for the "voluntary services" of federal employees who are needed to handle "emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property." This language has tended to be interpreted very broadly -- to cover well over half of all federal employees, who will still be expected to come to work. Once past shutdowns have ended, Congress has paid the essential employees who continued working.

So it boils down to this: In a shutdown, federal employees cannot volunteer to come to work, unless their jobs are considered essential. And if they are essential, their "volunteering" is mandatory.

One other note: While it will be illegal for non-essential personnel to come to work during a shutdown, no one has ever been prosecuted for doing it. However, anyone who tries it -- to demonstrate how essential they think they are -- would be subject to discipline and could even be fired.

Discuss this post

This

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 10:57 AM EDT

is

  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 10:58 AM EDT

the

  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 10:58 AM EDT

best

  • 2 votes
Reply#4 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 10:59 AM EDT

day

  • 2 votes
Reply#5 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:00 AM EDT

ever

  • 2 votes
Reply#6 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:00 AM EDT

With Nary a Word from .. Domenico about the REGULAR LEFTY LIBERAL in a CONCERTED effort to Collaspe every POST from Conservatives on this Board.

WHY Domenico are you not posting about the Alarming rate of Collaspes. We understand that you think its GOOD when LIberals do it.

  • 4 votes
Reply#7 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:02 AM EDT

Not sure about him, but THIS 'Libtard' has written MANY times that NO posts should be collapsed. Left-wing or Right-wing. Now, you are free to continue to comment on behalf of everyone else, Steve.

  • 3 votes
#7.1 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:09 AM EDT

Steve. Your paranoia is at full clip today.

  • 3 votes
#7.2 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:09 AM EDT

Drive By...

BUT not a Single Post from you abotu all the Liberals Collasping every Conservative Post. come on Man up . When we see you doing it.

  • 2 votes
#7.3 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:11 AM EDT

Read it again, dumb-ass. I have complained MANY times, on behalf of BOTH lefties AND righties.

  • 2 votes
#7.4 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:13 AM EDT

OH. Nice................. I would be insulted if infact i were a Dumb Ass. but i am not. so it falls off my shoulders like rain from the Sky......

  • 2 votes
#7.5 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:20 AM EDT
RVZ555Deleted
Reply

It just keeps getting Better and Better with the Hate filled Liberals we see the Truth about who it is that are the Real Collaspes Cowards. When you can't beat them in Debate You Collaspe their Posts. this is the Normal Tactic of the Left.. and i guess this is how we are going to have to combat it. by posting in every slot in the First page of every article.

  • 1 vote
Reply#8 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:04 AM EDT

Its another Great day...................I was Shocked when i woke up and saw the Regular Libbies on these boards Collasping Every conservative post. I felt i had to combat it

  • 2 votes
#8.2 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:10 AM EDT
RVZ555Deleted
Reply

Boehner and his teabaggers will soon learn the same lesson Walker and Gingrich have. He will be a one term leader of the House.

  • 2 votes
Reply#9 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:05 AM EDT

Patrick- I kind of agree with the tea-people, in that 'teabaggers' might not be the best term for them. I belive the more correct term would be 'tea-bagEEs'.

  • 3 votes
#9.1 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:16 AM EDT

DBO. I have a photo of an elderly man holding in his hand a lapel pin that plainly says teabagger, he is also wearing insignia that suggests he is a vet. Who am I to contradict him?

  • 2 votes
#9.2 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:20 AM EDT

Well, then, ok.

  • 1 vote
#9.3 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:38 AM EDT

"What a day for the tea party people. Did you see that? America’s parks and fairgrounds were lost in a sea of man-boobs. They were venting their anger and rage against taxes, which, of course, in most cases for them went down. Protesting their taxes went down – but you know, why let the truth spoil a perfectly good Klan rally." –Bill Maher

    #9.4 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 12:04 PM EDT
    Reply

    They Complain about some of their post getting Collasped and you RUN right in and make a Comment but Nothing when they are Collasping those of the Conservatives. . Why dont you jump in and Stop them.. Or perhaps you and them all got together and decided to collaspe them all?

    • 1 vote
    Reply#10 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:05 AM EDT

    It really shows just how disengenious liberals are about Collasping Post. they show total outrage when a few of theirs get collasped , but when they Collaspe EVERY conservative Post you can tell it is a Planned Event.. Come on Domenico. SPEAK up tell your Libbie Friends here at FR To stop the Collaspe

    • 1 vote
    Reply#11 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:08 AM EDT

    Steve. We get it, already. Now, back away from the bottle, and go find something constructive to do.

    Sheesh- you'd think one of YOU were the first and only person to ever get 'collapsed'.

    • 4 votes
    Reply#12 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:11 AM EDT

    Sorry you dont like how i combat your Collasping. if this is the Tactic you liberals choose to use. thats fine. IS this what FR wants their boards to become?

    • 3 votes
    #12.1 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:13 AM EDT
    Reply

    What about it Domenico. .. Care to Address it on this board. . Right now. Like you do when Some Libbie on this board Addresses the ISSUE?

    • 2 votes
    Reply#13 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:12 AM EDT

    "Federal taxes last year when down for 98 percent of people, but when asked about this, only 12 percent of the Teabaggers thought this was the case. 88 percent of them had it wrong. And a spokesman for the Teabaggers said, 'We don’t want to just be taxed less. We want to be taxed less by a white guy." –Bill Maher

    • 1 vote
    #13.1 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 12:06 PM EDT
    Reply

    Remember when the Republicans did this before in Senior Bush term? Everyone got paid later, no savings, only anger. Solve the problem, not make it worse!

    • 3 votes
    Reply#14 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:13 AM EDT

    Not that educated, it seems.

    Bush 41 never had a republican congress- it was the democrats who forced him to break his " no new taxes" pledge.

    It was supposed to cut the deficit. It did not, of course. Sending more money to congress is like supplying Jim Beam to an alcoholic.

    • 2 votes
    #14.1 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:37 AM EDT
    Reply
    RVZ555Deleted

    Rvz,

    I tihnk i saw One of your posts Collapsed in First Thought. I could be wrong. they still have not Collasped any of mine...

      Reply#16 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 11:47 AM EDT

      As it was Republicans who brought us the 2008 Wall Street Heist of $20,000,000,000,000; I can't imagine WHY NOT? let them fiasco-up the rest of government?
      Republicans are irresponsible Mental Cases.
      Have a cuppa TEA, On Me...

        Reply#17 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 12:21 PM EDT

        My last word on collapsed posts, I have had some of mine collapsed, but who cares. And I am more likely to read a collapsed post as not, I want to see what it is that people consider provocative.

          Reply#18 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 12:37 PM EDT

          I do not see one post or comment about the article. So I am thinking that most of you have nothing better to do than bash each other. You sure you are all not politicians?????? Same garbage, just a different house.

          By the way, I think forcing the Government employees to "volunteer" is just side-stepping the law. They know they are going to get paid sooner or later. I do not think that any government employee is essential so they can all stay home.

            Reply#19 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 12:50 PM EDT
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