NASA Email: Upcoming Second Formal Furlough Notice

Keith’s note: the following email “Shutdown furlough: Upcoming second formal furlough notice and additional information” was sent to everyone at NASA today. it opens with “When a lapse in appropriations exceeds 30 days, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations require agencies to treat it as a new formal furlough and issue a second formal furlough notice.” Full message below.

From: “Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO)” <[email protected]>
Reply-To: NASA-OCHCO-HRMES <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at
To: xxxxxxxxxxcxxxxxcxxxxx
Subject: Shutdown furlough: Upcoming second formal furlough notice and additional information

This HR Message is being delivered to you via HRMES On Behalf Of: Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO)

Hello NASA employees,

When a lapse in appropriations exceeds 30 days, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations require agencies to treat it as a new formal furlough and issue a second formal furlough notice. You will receive a second formal furlough notice from your human capital office by 3 p.m. local time Oct. 30. Please review the notice carefully and print or save a copy to your personal device. If you have questions regarding your shutdown furlough status, please consult with your supervisor.

As a reminder, all employees may use government-issued IT devices for the purposes of periodically checking for shutdown furlough-related updates and communications, receiving notifications regarding furlough status, and accessing information posted on https://nasa.gov/shutdown. Government-issued IT devices may not be used by any employee to conduct non-excepted work activities or for personal use.

Timekeeping

Please keep supervisors informed of any leave plans in the event the information is helpful to support shutdown furlough or post-shutdown furlough activities.  

Employees should not code non-work time into WebTADS.

Employees who perform approved excepted work during the shutdown furlough should record time worked in WebTADS daily as hour type GDWWK – GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – Excepted Work Unpaid. This hour type is charged to your WBS code. Instructions on how to add the GDWWK hour type can be found at https://nasa.gov/shutdown/shutdown-nasa-guidance. Record any overtime and compensatory time worked during the shutdown furlough to appropriate WBS codes. To ensure accurate retroactive pay and facilitate prior pay period adjustments, employees should also manually track outside of WebTADS all hours worked. Leave unworked hours blank.

Supervisors, please: 1) Code non-DRP employees on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) in WebTADS as LWOP on their timesheet so they do not receive payment after the shutdown furlough. 2) Do not approve timecards for furloughed employees during the shutdown furlough; this is being managed by the agency.

Benefits and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

Benefits and insurance coverage, including through the NASA Employees Benefit Association (NEBA), will continue without interruption during a shutdown furlough, though claim payments through Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) or the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) may be delayed. Insurance premiums normally deducted from paychecks (Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program and FSAFEDS) will be withheld from pay after shutdown furlough. If a government shutdown is prolonged, FSAFEDS allotments may be adjusted to account for missed premiums. For details, view Impacts of a Government Shutdown on Benefits.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions will be processed retroactively once the government reopens and pay is issued. Missed employee contributions will be credited and accounts will be updated once payroll systems are restored. Investment earnings will resume after deposits, with no additional compensation for the delay.

TSP loans will remain in good standing for active participants (not separated from federal service or in a non-pay status for another reason), even if no repayments are received during the shutdown. Employees may also request a new TSP loan if eligible. For details, read the Loans booklet.

Benefits Open Season starts Nov. 10. Employees will receive an email when Open Season begins. If the shutdown is ongoing during the open window, employees will also be notified via https://nasa.gov/shutdown. Employees can make benefits changes during a shutdown furlough and are approved to use government-issued IT devices for this purpose. These activities are not excepted so employees may not charge in WebTADS the time it takes to enroll or make changes. Employees can begin reviewing available plans on OPM’s website at Federal Benefits Open Season Resources. 

Required training and automated notifications

Employees should disregard any regular/routine automated notifications, including mandatory IT training and telework/remote work agreement cancellations; these are not excepted activities. Employees who were not able to complete cybersecurity training due to the shutdown will not lose access to IT systems. Employees will be directed to complete all required training when regular operations resume.

Resources

NASA Shutdown pages (https://www.nasa.gov/shutdown) include employee notifications and resources.

New on the site is a letter employees may use with financial institutions, creditors, utility companies, and similar entities to request relief or assistance. Proof of employment could include the latest Standard Form 50 (SF-50), initial and latest formal furlough notices, and/or the latest earnings and leave statement from Employee Express.

The pages also include:

• Government operating status and alerts     
• NASA Shutdown Furlough Guide for Employees    
• OPM shutdown website
• Center shutdown pages that highlight local resources    
• Enterprise Service Desk    
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Please continue monitoring these pages for updates.

We understand this shutdown furlough may be challenging and are grateful for your dedication to public service, commitment, and patience as this lapse in appropriations continues.

Thank you, 

Kelly Elliott
Chief Human Capital Officer

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED HRMES MESSAGE. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY.