Resources for contractors affected by shutdown

The federal government continues to operate under a partial shutdown affecting nine federal departments and a total of about 800,000 federal workers who have been furloughed or are working without pay. Several agencies and programs serving the construction industry are not affected, including the Departments of Labor, Defense, Education, Energy and Veterans Affairs construction projects. However, contractors could be affected if they are providing services for the smaller agencies or one of the nine federal departments affected by the shutdown: Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, State, Transportation and the Treasury.

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) recently released advice for contractors affected by the government shutdown. ABC says that departments affected by the shutdown offer guidance to contractors on an agency-by-agency basis. Contractors performing work for federal agencies should look for information on shutdown/contingency plans on agency websites to learn how the shutdown affects them, ABC says. Contractors can also consult the Office of Management Budget’s Agency Contingency Plans and FAQs During a Lapse in Appropriations. 

Additionally, the E-Verify system utilized by contractors performing construction services under federal contracts and certain additional public works contracts to electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees is unavailable until the Department of Homeland Security receives funding. Read more details on E-Verify’s website.  

ABC says it is continuing to monitor discussions surrounding the shutdown between the White House and Congress, and it encourages members to reach out to the ABC government affairs team with any questions or concerns.