Fed Government Shutdown 2025: non-political thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Politico reported that Thune hopes Senate will pass a bill with a longer deadline than Nov 21 this week and that the House would vote on it early next week.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/03/democrats-split-over-shutdown-endgame-00634452

Thune has been “hoping” since day one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been hearing whispers from our higher ups in the office (HHS OpDiv) that we may be back on Nov 6. Anyone else hearing likewise?

Nope. Spoke with one of my senior leadership last Friday (I’m furloughed, they’re not), also HHS OpDiv. They told me it’s incredibly unlikely we’ll be back by November 7th. I doubt anything’s changed radically in the four days since we spoke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Politico reported that Thune hopes Senate will pass a bill with a longer deadline than Nov 21 this week and that the House would vote on it early next week.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/03/democrats-split-over-shutdown-endgame-00634452

Thune has been “hoping” since day one.

Fair enough, I was just noting that PPs’ Nov 6th predictions are even more optimistic than Senate leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

[Anonymous]

Things seem to be loosening up with some actual ideas for the ACA subsidies. I think we'll be back by the end of next week.

[Anonymous]

Slightly OT but assuming we get backpay will it be one big check or two smaller ones? I am curious whether things like the FSA will be withheld by the amount x missed paychecks or just the amount of one usual paycheck. Same with TSP, will it be withheld in the same amount as two paychecks or just one paycheck?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

That DOGE POS who tried to wreak havoc at HHS has moved on to Naval research so who knows?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

I'm with DOI and it's more than rumors, the admin has been arguing aggressively in court that they should be allowed to move forward since they were planned before the shutdown anyway.

This is what makes it hard for me to feel relieved about reopening. I may not be getting a paycheck, but I'm still officially employed with health insurance. My situation could actually get worse when we go back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

That DOGE POS who tried to wreak havoc at HHS has moved on to Naval research so who knows?

The little boy that hasn't graduated yet... that one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

That DOGE POS who tried to wreak havoc at HHS has moved on to Naval research so who knows?

The little boy that hasn't graduated yet... that one?

They are all little boys who haven't graduated yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

I'm with DOI and it's more than rumors, the admin has been arguing aggressively in court that they should be allowed to move forward since they were planned before the shutdown anyway.

This is what makes it hard for me to feel relieved about reopening. I may not be getting a paycheck, but I'm still officially employed with health insurance. My situation could actually get worse when we go back.

Will they be offering VERA again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

I'm with DOI and it's more than rumors, the admin has been arguing aggressively in court that they should be allowed to move forward since they were planned before the shutdown anyway.

This is what makes it hard for me to feel relieved about reopening. I may not be getting a paycheck, but I'm still officially employed with health insurance. My situation could actually get worse when we go back.

Will they be offering VERA again?

Not that I've heard but I think if you are eligible when you get RIFed, you get Discontinued Service Retirement. Its not "offered." It's forced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly OT but assuming we get backpay will it be one big check or two smaller ones? I am curious whether things like the FSA will be withheld by the amount x missed paychecks or just the amount of one usual paycheck. Same with TSP, will it be withheld in the same amount as two paychecks or just one paycheck?

I got an allotment adjustment message from FSA Feds notifying me what my new withholdings will be each paycheck. (So normally it’s $192.3 for the dependent care account each pay period but going forward it will be 240.42 taken out each pay period). I’m sure it will be adjusted again once this paycheck is officially missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

That DOGE POS who tried to wreak havoc at HHS has moved on to Naval research so who knows?

The little boy that hasn't graduated yet... that one?

This particular post refers to Rachel Riley, who is the new chief of the office of naval research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's agency hear rumors of RIFs this month?

That DOGE POS who tried to wreak havoc at HHS has moved on to Naval research so who knows?

The little boy that hasn't graduated yet... that one?

No, the 33-year old with a PhD in “social policy” who’s replacing a 2-star admiral.