The Impact of a Federal Government Shutdown on OSHA
The federal government is currently in a race against the clock. Unless lawmakers agree to a spending plan before midnight (ET) on Tuesday, September 30, federal appropriations will expire causing much of the federal government, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to shut down. A lthough OSHA will cease most operations during the shutdown, some inspection activity deemed “essential” by the Agency will continue under limited circumstances. In preparation for a government shutdown, the Department of Labor (DOL) developed a contingency plan (dated September 26, 2025) outlining the DOL’s plan for operating in the event of a lapse in appropriations. This plan specifies the “essential” functions of OSHA that will be maintained during a shutdown, which include: Inspection of imminent danger situations; Inspection of workplace fatalities and catastrophes; Review of whistleblower complaints and subsequent referrals to an appropriate agency of any compl...