NASA Internal Memo: Planning for Potential Lapse in Appropriations
“However, prudent management requires that we be prepared for all contingencies, including the possibility that a lapse could occur at the end of the month. A lapse would mean that a number of government activities would cease due to a lack of appropriated funding. It would also mean that a number of employees would be temporarily furloughed. To prepare for this possibility, we are working with our General Counsel and our Chief Financial Officer to update our contingency plans for executing an orderly shutdown of activities that would be affected by a lapse in appropriations.”
OMB Memo: Planning for Agency Operations during a Potential Lapse in Appropriations
NASA Ames Federal Employees Union Memo: Potential Shutdown Looming Yet Again
“With the turmoil of the DOI snafu and its 4-day delay in paychecks fresh on our minds, you need to be acutely aware that a shutdown could have a much bigger financial impact on you and your family, especially given that we would not likely receive retroactive pay as we did after the shutdowns of the 1990’s.  Please act accordingly and keep some funds in reserve, if you possibly can.”

Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member...

11 replies on “Appropriations Lapse Could Result in NASA Furloughs”

  1. And if the past is any guide, the Civil Service employees that are furloughed will be paid for the time off, and contractors may or may not be. (Or will have to burn vacation.)

    That said, the fact that the US government has not had a budget passed in quite a few years is a sad comment on the fitness of the House and Senate members.

    1. The Civil Service employees at EPA were not paid when they were furloughed the summer. If that comment was directed at Civil Service employees at large then you are way off base.

      I concur wholeheartedly with your comment about the fitness of our members of Congress.

      1. The current furloughs, due to the sequester, are different from the past “shutdowns” due to no budget. When those have happened in the past, the CS were paid for the time they were sent home. The contractor situation is dependent on their billing cycle and if they are given money in advance for their staff.

    2. As long as we have narrow-cast ‘news’ outlets that pitch propaganda over actual information, there will be a certain segment of the population that will be happy to vote for chest-thumping ideology over common sense.

      And since those elected by such voters have taken it upon themselves to Gerrymander the districts of their state to protect their positions, we are looking at more of the same for quite a while to come.

    3. Anyone who thinks that Civil Servants will get retroactive pay from a shutdown is seriously out of touch with what is happening in DC. This is not the same Congress we had in 1995-1996. Republicans don’t and won’t feel they need to “make amends” like they did last time and grant retroactive pay. Our DoD brethren lost 20% of their pay this summer (which disproportionately devastated those at the lowest pay grades, as losing 20% of you pay when you make 30K and are supporting a family alone is much more devastating than if you are making 140K and you are part of a dual income family). There is absolutely no reason to think that CS will get their pay. This is not a shutdown like 1995-1996, or a “free vacation”. This is a furlough, with LOST pay, where workers will miss possibly an entire paycheck or more. In many states they cannot apply for unemployment, or work at other jobs. In some “federal city” locations in the US, like DC metro, Chicago, San Diego, or Huntsville, AL, the effect on the local economy of thousands of people without pay can and will be devastating. Do not assume anyone will get back pay. DoD is never going to see that 20% back. No one cared then, and no one will care now if NASA CS lose a paycheck or two. I’m a NASA CS. I’m in a fortunate financial situation to be ok for a month or so, but some of our support staff are terribly worried (and rightfully so). Congress needs to realize who exactly they will be hurting.

      1. You are right, this is different. The House will not agree to backpay anyone. The Republican party has been high-jacked by the teabaggers and they don’t care who they hurt. They don’t care about their country and they won’t compromise. The American Taliban is an appropriate synonym for TEA Party.

        1. It’s ironic if you think about it. The Tea Party is always complaining about people who are able-bodied but refuse to work. Who leech off the system, etc. Yet if they shut down, I will be able-bodied, ready, and willing to work, but won’t be allowed to. I WANT to work. I love my job. I WANT to go to work everyday. If they shut down they are FORCING able-bodied hard-working Americans into financial hardship. In some cases those at lower pay bands will be forced into poverty and be forced to seek help (although will not be eligible for government help). All because the Congress is preventing hard-working Americans from working to support themselves and their country, simply due to partisan bickering. It’s just so stupid.

  3. How in the heck will we be able to get to the moon when we can’t communicate between these two buildings: White House and the Capital?

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