Due to a failure to enact appropriations or a continuing resolution, parts of the federal government shut down on December 22, 2018. Many agencies, including those under the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, remained open and are largely unaffected due to the passage of full-year appropriation bills earlier in 2018. These are agencies that have the most direct impact on people with disabilities.

However, employees at several other agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Justice, Commerce, State, and Homeland Security, were furloughed unless they were classified as “excepted.” These agencies operate programs that are important to people with disabilities. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development helps subsidize housing costs.

On January 25, 2019, a deal was reached in Congress to reopen the government for three weeks, with continued negotiations between Congress and The White House. NCCDD's Public Policy Team will provide information as we learn more.

The public policy update was featured in January's Highlights and Hot Topics.