WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration will furlough 23% of its staff as a result of the partial government shutdown that began today.
The agency’s Office of Railroad Safety — which is responsible for investigating rail accidents as well as inspecting railroad equipment and facilities to ensure compliance with federal regulations — will continue working through the shutdown, the Department of Transportation said yesterday.
Staffers who work in the FRA’s Office of Railroad Development and administer various financial assistance programs also will remain on the job. Funding for that work is not affected by a lapse in appropriations.
But FRA will cease funding research and development projects and rulemaking activities, unless regulatory activity was related to financial assistance programs that are funded through the FRA’s Oversight account.
The agency also will stop responding to media inquiries, except those related to emergencies that pose a threat to people and property.
Of the 1,023 employees on the FRA payroll before the shutdown, 239 will be furloughed, DOT said. Employees retained during the shutdown include 550 whose jobs are deemed necessary to protect life and property, as well as 218 positions funded from sources other than annual appropriations.
The Surface Transportation Board, in a statement issued this morning, said the funding lapse has prompted the agency to suspend operations.
During the shutdown, the STB will not accept filings, process cases, issue decisions, or hold hearings. The only exception, the board said, would be to handle requests for emergency service orders, which are rare.
It’s not clear how long the partial government shutdown will last as the parties remain deadlocked on an appropriations bill. A 2018 shutdown lasted 35 days. A shutdown of that duration would potentially delay Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s filing of their merger application.
Note: Updated at 9:40 a.m. Eastern with information from the STB.
