The Department of Energy would retain 908 employees under a shutdown plan released today as the deadline for Congress to pass a spending package looms closer.

Unlike most agencies, however, DOE has "no year" funds rolled over from previous cycles that can be used to keep it running, and its shutdown plan would likely not be implemented immediately if lawmakers fail to pass appropriations when the current continuing resolution expires at midnight tomorrow.

The plan instead serves as a contingency option if Congress leaves the government unfunded for more than a few days.

"Each component of DOE will continue to operate until prior year balances for funding of federal employees is exhausted. Pursuant to the DOE Order each office that has prior year balances will continue to operate as long as those balances remain available," according to the plan. "Their operations under those circumstances will be somewhat modified. For example, travel will generally be curtailed. DOE has some limited transfer and reprogramming authority which may enable DOE to extend the number of days of funding available in some limited cases."

The Office of Management and Budget directed agencies to begin shutdown preparations yesterday, with specific plans for potential furloughs going out today (E&E Daily, Dec. 15).

DOE released today an updated version of a plan originally released in April, when Congress waited until the last minute to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government running. Since then, the number of employees who will be exempt from a furlough has decreased by about 10.

Of the 908 employees retained under the plan, 13 are presidential appointees and 140 are "engaged in military, law enforcement, or direct provision of health care activities. Those who will go on furlough would be given a half-day to shut down operations, though exceptions will be given for the movement of nuclear materials and equipment that takes longer to shut off."

Many offices -- such as the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Office of Fossil Energy -- would make do with a handful of employees. The National Nuclear Security Administration would keep 128 excepted employees and four presidential appointees.

The more than 3,000 employees at the Bonneville Power Administration -- which provides power to federal hydro projects in the Columbia River Basin -- would all stay on the job, as their salaries are provided by a permanent, indefinite appropriation.