EPA announced Tuesday night that it would shutter the agency and send thousands of workers home due to the government shutdown.
In an email to staff after the Senate failed to pass a stopgap bill to fund government agencies beyond the end of the fiscal year, which closed at midnight, EPA leadership blamed Democrats for the shutdown and indicated that no existing funding would be used to keep the agency open.
“A funding lapse will result in certain government activities ceasing due to a lack of appropriated funding,” the agency stated. “In addition, designed pre-notified employees of this agency would be temporarily furloughed due to a lack of funding.”
EPA staff was in the dark for much of Tuesday about whether the agency would suspend work by noon Wednesday, furloughing almost 90 percent of workers until Congress and the White House reach a deal to reopen the government.
