DoT bureaus offer advice to furloughed feds

The Transportation Department is giving employees in four affected bureaus different instructions to prepare for furloughs.

Federal News Radio first reported the expected furloughs of 2,000 people on Friday.

Federal News Radio's Jason Miller also reported that they will remain on furlough unless the House passes the Senate's version of the job bill without amendment, or if the Senate passes the House version of the 30-day extension of transportation programs bill.

Transportation workers are being furloughed because Republican Senator Jim Bunning decided to block passage of legislation that would have extended federal highway and transit programs. Those programs expired at midnight Sunday.

The Federal Highway Administration's telephone hotline asks all employees to report as expected today. There will be a 9 a.m. staff meeting where FHA managers will provide further information on the funding and the shutdown. Each employee will receive information on their status during the shutdown and those what will be furloughed will be "released by 12 p.m. and others will be working under a modified duties."

The Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it "has been shut down," and is asking a limited number of employees to remain on duty.

"All furloughed employees should follow public broadcasts and check this message to see when congressional action has been taken," the MCAS hotline says.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says all employees who come to work Monday will perform shutdown functions and will be paid for three hours. Those who do not come to work on Monday must be able to receive their furlough notice electronically at home, and respond to the bureau's notice. Employees not coming in to perform shutdown functions will not be paid for the three hours, the hotline says.

NHTSA managers should report to work on Monday as scheduled to oversee shutdown operations.

Finally, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration message was simple and straightforward. Furloughs begin March 1, and when updates are available please check back on the hotline.

Tuesday is technically the deadline for an extension of the legislation. Sources tell Federal News Radio the Senate is likely to vote for cloture on Monday, taking a final vote later in the week.

For updates, call:

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) - (866) 499-3637
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)- (800) 382-9067
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - (866) 841-1496
• Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) - (202) 366-0401

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