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As you are probably aware, we are facing a potential lapse in funding beginning midnight, Saturday, September 30, 2023. We understand the many challenges and concerns this kind of disruption can create, and we need to prepare for that possibility. Accordingly, we are writing to provide information about what you can expect. If the FAA no longer has appropriated funds available, AHR will send furlough notifications to non-excepted code 1 and code 7 employees with further instructions. Excepted code 4 and code 6 employees will not receive AHR notification and are expected to continue excepted work activities. Additionally, a conversation should be had between you and your manager regarding your furlough status.
Please see the Flight Standards Furlough Plan and additional AHR guidance below:
Flight Standards Furlough Plan
"Operations During a Lapse in Annual Appropriations Plans by Operating Administration", dated August 4, 2023. This plan stipulates that during a lapse in appropriations, the FAA will maintain all safety reviews, surveillance, approvals, renewals and modifications for individuals and companies. However, employees whose sole responsibility is providing policy and operational support work will be furloughed.
To ensure that we are operating in accordance with applicable laws, the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel (AGC) has provided guidance on what work is excepted in order to assure continued safety of the NAS. We applied this guidance to our staffing plan to help you anticipate how a lapse in appropriations will affect each of the FS functional offices. For information on what the codes mean, see the furlough table codes below.
Air Carrier Safety Assurance and General Aviation Safety Assurance – These offices are responsible for the certification and oversight of the aviation system. All office managers and principal inspectors are coded as “04” and everyone else is coded as “07.”
Some activities (e.g., training) will not occur during a lapse in appropriations. Accordingly, managers have the authority and responsibility to intermittently furlough individuals if there is insufficient excepted work for them to perform.
Safety Standards – International field offices, the Training & Simulation Branch (AFS- 280), and the Safety Analysis Branch (AFS-930) perform certification and oversight and will be fully staffed for the initial phase. These employees are coded as “04.”
Some activities (e.g., training) will not occur during a lapse in appropriations. Accordingly, managers have the authority and responsibility to intermittently furlough individuals if there is insufficient excepted work for them to perform.
Employees in all other Safety Standards divisions and branches will be furloughed and will participate in the orderly shutdown process. Individuals may be recalled to perform excepted work on an as-needed basis. These individuals are coded as “07.”
Foundational Business – The staffing plan for Foundational Business varies by division and is based on the roles and responsibilities of the branches or division:
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Mission Services (AFB-100) and Workforce Services (AFB-300): Work performed by these divisions is not excepted and is coded as “01.” All employees in these divisions will be furloughed and will participate in the orderly shutdown process.
- Exceptions will be the division manager for AFB-300, the division manager for AFB-100 and the branch manager for AFB-320. These employees are coded as “06.” Also, one FLM and two identified analysts will be coded as “07”.
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Strategic Planning and Financial Services (AFB-200): Work performed by this division is not excepted and is coded as “01.” All employees in this division will be furloughed and will participate in the orderly shutdown process.
- The exception will be the AFB-230 branch manager who is coded as “07.”
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Safety Risk Management (AFB-400): The normal work performed by this division is not excepted and employees are coded as “01,” unless a particular safety recommendation or whistleblower complaint rises to a risk level that warrants immediate attention. Most employees in this division will be furloughed and will participate in the orderly shutdown process. If an urgent issue requires this staff, the FAA will recall required individuals on an as-needed basis.
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Workforce Development (AFB-500): Work performed by this division is not excepted. All employees in this division are coded as “01” and will participate in the orderly shutdown process.
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Civil Aviation Registry (AFB-700): Airmen certification and aircraft registration and recordation are excepted activities, so this division will be staffed initially and coded as “06” to carry out registration responsibilities. Since some specific activities (e.g., training) will not occur, managers have the authority and responsibility to intermittently furlough individuals if there is insufficient excepted work for them to perform.
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FAA Shutdown Furlough Codes and Descriptions:
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Code 1 = Non-excepted
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Code 2 = Excepted – employee’s services are required to provide for national security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or for the safety of human life or the protection of property
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Code 4 = Excepted - employee’s services are required for imminent dangers to the safety of human life or the protection of property, including, but not limited to: the continuance of air traffic control and other transportation safety functions and the protection of transport property; protection of property owned by the United States; aircraft accident investigations; or emergency and disaster assistance
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Code 5 = Excepted for orderly shutdown – employee’s services ae required for orderly shutdown of agency activities beyond four hours and no more than a total of eight hours without specific approval Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11 requires written justification for delaying an employee from furlough for shut down activities in excess of a half-day
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Code 6 = Excepted – employee’s services are essential to support continuing the services of other excepted agency activities; such services do not include ongoing, regular functions of government the suspension of which would not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property
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Code 7 = Non-excepted – employee may be initially furloughed and subject to intermittent furlough and recall by designated agency officials since the employee’s services may be required for periodic support of other excepted agency activities, or for the periodic performance of activities required for the safety of human life and the protection of property, or for other short-term excepted or exempted reasons.
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If you have any questions concerning the Flight Standards Strategic Furlough Plan, please contact Lisa Miller, Billy Childs, and Melanie Nguyen.
Additional AHR Guidance
During Government Shutdown
Employees in furlough status may check their FAA email account or the my.faa.gov/go/shutdown webpage to check operating status, and/or obtain important information, but may not use government-issued equipment such as laptop computers, iPads, or cell phones to perform work.
Flight Standards leadership will monitor operations in the NAS and recall employees over time to conduct risk‐based surveillance or to address identified operational risks as they emerge. We will accomplish recalls in accordance with FAA procedures and any applicable agreements with PASS. If safety oversight work is completed and no further work is available for a particular individual, we will issue return‐to‐furlough notices.
Return to Work and Normal Operations
A shutdown ends as soon as there is a signed appropriations bill. Then all employees return to work status. It is important to note that COS activities remain the priority and the schedule for new certifications, authorizations, etc., must be reassessed after the return to work. FS leaders recognize that the schedule impact on these activities may be more than a simple day‐for‐day calculation.
MyProfile Updates
Please check your FAA MyProfile information before midnight tonight. Ensure that your contact information (e.g., phone numbers, email addresses) is accurate. We will use information in your profile to process notifications.
Furlough Guidance: Q&A
Human Resource Policy Manual (HRPM) Volume 1 - Employment Reference Material (faa.gov) - Human Resources Policy Manual (HRPM) Reference Material Save Money Furlough – Q&A. HRPM Reference Material provides questions and answers pertaining to a furlough. These questions and answers are not all inclusive and do not supersede agency policy or federal regulation. Employees are encouraged to refer to agency policy and regulations.
Furlough Information (faa.gov) This link provides AHR general furlough information to include, pay, leave and benefits, ethics and an EAP guide for supervisors.
EAP Resource Link: As we work through the impacts and disruption of a potential furlough in our personal lives, do not forget our ability to seek solutions through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP offers a variety of solutions including counseling, financial, and legal services as well as life management services. Information can be found at WorkLife Solutions Program (faa.gov)
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