The U.S. federal government shut down at midnight on October 1st. As is always the case with a federal government shutdown, it is unclear how long it will last. America’s Blood Centers (ABC) is monitoring the situation and will keep you updated as we learn more. For now, we want to assure you that, based on current assessments, the impact on blood centers and related operations should be minimal.
Update: More than a week into the shutdown, signs remain mixed regarding how close we are to a resolution. The House has not been in session this week, while the Senate continues to meet and vote. However, the Senate is repeatedly voting on the same measures that failed to pass in the lead-up to the shutdown. Since the Oval Office negotiations prior to the shutdown, there have been no publicly reported discussions between the parties. The Administration continues to threaten permanent reductions in force (RIFs), though no specific details have been provided. Meanwhile, an increasing number of air traffic controllers are calling out sick—a pattern seen in previous shutdowns that has, in the past, helped pressure both sides back to the negotiating table. Whether that will be the case this time, or how much longer the shutdown will persist, remains uncertain.
FDA Impact: Most staff at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to work during a shutdown, mostly due to the large number of positions funded by user fees. However, functions relating to review work, guidance development, and pre-approval inspections related to whole blood and blood components for transfusion will cease during a lapse in appropriations, except for work that is necessary to detect and address imminent threats to the safety of human life.
HHS Impact: If your center has grant funding, for example through NIH or BARDA, it would only be interrupted if you were expecting to receive the funding during the shutdown. If you have a grant and you already have the funds, there is no impact. If you are expecting funds in the coming days, the funding will be delayed until the funds are appropriated by Congress.
Broader Impact: Personnel throughout the government may be impacted, which could mean you would not receive responses from them during the shutdown. During a shutdown, “essential services” continue, and it is important to note that what is deemed essential is determined by the current decision makers in the agencies. So, while it can be helpful to look back at previous shutdowns for a sense of what is and is not open, what is deemed “essential” is not always the same. Furthermore, only those functions funded through the appropriations process are impacted. “Mandatory” funding streams such as social security, are not impacted, as they do not go through appropriations.
Congressional Impact: Congress remains open, though some staff may be furloughed or put on leave. However, this varies dramatically from office to office. If you are reaching out to your congressional office, you may receive an out-of-office notice. If this happens, we encourage you to resend the email after the government shutdown concludes. That said, a shutdown can actually be a great time to work with your congressional office, as their schedules tend to be somewhat lighter, giving them more time to dive into an issue.
We will continue to monitor this situation closely and keep you informed of any changes that could affect your operations. If you have any questions on specific impacts, please reach out to Diane Calmus, dcalmus@americasblood.org.