U.S. EPA officials plan to meet with unions next week to discuss potential sequestration issues as the uncertainty about the federal budget continues.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, according to an email sent yesterday to the American Federation of Government Employees.

Since last year, AFGE Council 238, which represents more than 10,000 EPA employees, has been requesting regular briefings to discuss workers' concerns about a potential government shutdown and furloughs. It reiterated the request this week after the White House Office of Management and Budget told agencies Monday that federal employee representatives should be involved in potential furlough decisions "to the fullest extent practicable" (Greenwire, Jan. 15).

Congress must act by March 1 to avoid huge across-the-board budget cuts at federal agencies mandated by prior deals over the debt ceiling and budget. Additionally, the continuing resolution funding the government expires March 27, and Congress must act by then to avert a shutdown.