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Monthlong Shutdown Hobbles Employment Agencies and Federal Courts

Agency slowdowns are producing backlogs that will extend well beyond the eventual reopening.

Overview

  • EEOC operations are largely halted with about 95% of staff furloughed, suspending investigations, mediations, hearings and website transactions until funding returns.
  • NLRB case handling is paused with union elections and hearings postponed, filing deadlines tolled, and only emergency matters moving forward.
  • OSHA is limiting work to imminent danger and fatality investigations, with programmed inspections, compliance assistance, training and rulemaking on hold.
  • DOL has stopped key immigration functions such as LCAs, PERM and prevailing wage determinations, E‑Verify is unavailable, and ICE enforcement continues.
  • Federal courts have been on limited funding since October 20 with CM/ECF filing active, case progress and delays set by individual courts, and parties advised to plan for slower timelines.