Update on APHIS Operations

 

Hello to our valued USDA Animal Care stakeholders.

 

We apologize for any inconveniences this lapse in federal funding may cause you. Please know that we look forward to serving you when our offices reopen. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

The following is a message from our agency’s administrator.

 

 

 

 

APHIS Stakeholders -

Due to a lapse in appropriations for APHIS as of October 1, APHIS has initiated the process of orderly shutdown of nonessential operations. You can view USDA’s plans for a lapse in appropriations at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/contingency-plans

 

We understand the uncertainty that the current circumstances present for Americans that USDA serves every day, as well as our many partners around the country.  Effective today, many APHIS staff will be furloughed pending reinstatement of funding by Congress. These staff will not be available by phone or email, and cannot carry out work for the Agency, until funding is restored.

 

In APHIS, certain activities would continue because they are financed through available funding (e.g., user fees, trust funds) or are considered “excepted,” such as cattle fever tick surveillance and foreign animal disease diagnostics because these protect our borders against the entry of foreign diseases and care of animals in our custody because this is necessary to maintain research property. Minimal support would also be maintained to sustain program delivery for these programs. Those APHIS activities funded by Congressional appropriations would not continue during a funding lapse, such as assistance for the control of most plant and animal pests and diseases; research, except for the care of animals and plants; review or authorization of notifications or permits for the importation, interstate movement, or field release of genetically engineered organisms; review of petitions for nonregulated status related to genetically engineered crops; and most management, administrative and oversight functions, such as facility inspections and complaint investigations related to the Animal Welfare Act.

 

We are committed to keeping you as up to date as possible, within the limits of current circumstances.

 

Sincerely,

Kevin Shea

APHIS Administrator