Employees at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and several other critical highway safety agencies remain on the job with pay, despite the ongoing US government shutdown.
“All operations continue as normal,” DOT wrote in a shutdown preparation document. “FMCSA positions are primarily funded by authorized contract authority and paid out of the Highway Trust Fund and liquidated with cash appropriated by annual appropriations.”
After failing to reach a funding agreement, the U.S. government shut down on Oct. 1. This has resulted in the furloughs of an estimated 750,000 employees across the federal government, with the Trump administration suggesting many positions could be permanently eliminated due to the shutdown.
That is not the case at FMCSA, where none of the 1,084 agency employees are furloughed, according to DOT. Likewise, normal operations are continuing without furloughs at the Federal Highway Administration (2,268 employees) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (574 employees).
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Maritime Administration are among the agencies within DOT facing some furloughs. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration has 11,000 employees on furlough and 13,000 air traffic controllers required to work without pay until the shutdown ends.
“Logistics are in place to provide for an orderly recall of employees and a return to normal operations, once annual appropriations are restored,” DOT said.
Separately, the Department of Homeland Security said 63,243 of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s staff of nearly 68,000 were not affected by the shutdown, ensuring that inspections of imports through land borders and seaports can continue.
Highway funding still flows
DOT said there is enough money to reimburse states for ongoing highway projects and maintenance for several months. These funds originate from prior appropriations legislation, the Highway Trust Fund, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in November 2021.
However, not all infrastructure projects are immune to the politics of the government shutdown. On Oct. 1, the Trump administration announced it was holding up $18 billion from New York for a new train tunnel under the Hudson River, and a subway project in New York City.
“Until USDOT’s quick administrative review is complete, project reimbursements cannot be processed,” DOT said in a statement. “Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jefferies shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time. Without a budget, the Department has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.”
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