In the absence of either a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriation, or a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), no further financial obligations may be incurred by the Department, except for those related to the performance of excepted activities as defined in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies dated November 17, 1981.
Due to the continued funding lapse, USCG is issuing a second shutdown furlough notice. This furlough will begin effective October 31, 2025, and continue for a 30-day period ending on November 29, 2025. This second shutdown furlough applies to all employees who are currently in a furlough status. It does not apply to employees who did not previously receive a furlough notice, including excepted employees and exempt employees. Employees who have been recalled from furlough status may continue to work in accordance with any previously-issued recall notice, but will be placed in furlough status if the recall ends before funding is restored.
For further details, see below.
Continuing Furlough Notice
This notice is for employees currently in a furloughed, non-pay status.
In the absence of either a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriation, or a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), no further financial obligations may be incurred by the Department, except for those related to performance of excepted activities as defined in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies dated November 17, 1981. Therefore, USCG is issuing a second shutdown furlough. This furlough, non-pay status, is an action of 30 days or less under 5 CFR part 752. Therefore, this second furlough notice expires on November 29, 2025.
This second shutdown furlough only applies to employees who previously received a furlough notice. Employees who did not receive a furlough notice because they are exempt employees, or because they were needed to perform excepted activities, are not subject to this second shutdown furlough. Thus, if you have not previously received a furlough notice, you are not being placed in a furlough status at this time.
If you received a furlough notice, but were subsequently recalled, you are subject to this second shutdown furlough. However, you may continue to perform excepted activities per the terms of that recall notice. If the recall ends before funding is restored, you will be placed in a furlough status.
You should monitor public broadcasts, https://www.mycg.uscg.mil, and the Internet. When a continuing resolution or a FY 2026 appropriation for DHS is approved, you will be expected to return to work on your next regular duty day.
This action is being taken because of a sudden emergency requiring curtailment of the agency’s activities; therefore, no advance notification is possible. The customary 30-day advance notice period and opportunity to answer are suspended under the provisions of 5 CFR 752.404(d)(2). The 30 day-advance notice otherwise required by 5 CFR 359.806(a) for Senior Executive Service (SES) career appointees (other than reemployed annuitants) may be shortened or waived.
If employees are being retained in your competitive level or competitive area, they are required for orderly suspension of agency operations or they are performing one of the excepted activities defined in the OMB memorandum.
During this furlough period, you will remain in your current status. You will not be permitted to work as an unpaid volunteer. Any paid leave (annual, sick, court, etc.) approved for use during the furlough period is canceled. After the lapse ends, you will receive your “standard rate of pay” for the furlough period in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1341(c) as soon as possible. (This means that employees who would have been in pay status but for the lapse in appropriations will receive their full regular pay for any furlough period.)
Employees who have completed a probationary or trial period or 1 year of current continuous employment in the competitive service under other than a temporary appointment may appeal this action to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). Employees in the excepted service who have veterans’ preference may appeal to MSPB if they have completed 1 year of current continuous service in the same or similar positions as the one they now hold. Employees in the excepted service who do not have veterans’ preference and who are not serving a probationary or trial period under an initial appointment pending conversion to the competitive service may appeal to MSPB if they have completed 2 years of current continuous service in the same or similar positions in an Executive agency under other than a temporary appointment limited to 2 years or less.
Career SES appointees (except reemployed annuitants) who believe requirements of 5 CFR part 359, subpart H, or the agency’s procedures have not been correctly applied may also appeal to MSPB. Career SES appointees may inspect the regulations and records pertinent to this action at the following location: https://www.dhs.gov/publication/lapse-funding-dhs.
The process to exercise your appeal, grievance, and complaint rights are set forth below. Carefully read the explanations for how to exercise your options and the effects of an election as you may elect only one avenue for redress.
MSPB Appeal: If you have the right of appeal to MSPB and wish to appeal this action to MSPB, you must file the appeal within 30 calendar days after the effective date of your furlough, or 30 days after the date of your receipt of this decision notice, whichever is later. If you wish to file an appeal, you may obtain information about the appeals process and a copy of the appeals form from the MSPB website at http://www.mspb.gov/appeals/appeals.htm. If you cannot access the internet, please notify the local MSPB regional or field office and a paper copy of MSPB’s appeal form and regulations will be provided to you. MSPB requires an appeal to be filed with the MSPB regional or field office serving the area where your duty station was located when the action was taken. Based upon your duty station, you can find the address of the appropriate field office at http://www.mspb.gov/contact/contact.htm. You may wish to check MSPB’s website for its operating status during this time. MSPB encourages employees to file electronically with MSPB’s e-Appeal electronic filing system at https://e-appeal.mspb.gov/.
Employees have a right to representation in this matter and may be represented by an attorney or other person of their choosing. MSPB requires that attorney representatives register as e-filers with MSPB and file all pleadings using MSPB's e-Appeal. If you submit an appeal to MSPB, the agency official to whom MSPB should send the Acknowledgment Order and copy of the appeal is:
COMMANDANT (CG-0944)
ATTN: OFFICE OF GENERAL LAW
US COAST GUARD STOP 7213
2703 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE
WASHINGTON DC 20593-7213
Grievance Under Collective Bargaining Agreement: Bargaining unit employees may grieve this action in accordance with the applicable negotiated agreement or may appeal to MSPB in accordance with the procedures outlined above, but not both. An employee is deemed to have exercised an option when the employee timely files a notice of appeal under the applicable appellate procedures or timely files a grievance in writing in accordance with the provisions of the negotiated grievance procedure, whichever event occurs first. Inquiries about pursuing the grievance process cannot alter the MSPB deadlines referenced above. However, the election of the negotiated grievance procedure will not prejudice the employee's right to request MSPB review of the final decision with respect to allegations of discrimination as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(1). To obtain information on filing a grievance under the negotiated grievance procedure, contact the Employee Relations Team, identified in your initial furlough notice from September 30, 2025.
Discrimination Complaint: If you believe this action involves discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or age, you have the right to file a complaint under the provisions of 29 C.F.R. Part 1614. To do so, you must contact an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor within forty-five (45) calendar days of your receipt of this letter. For further information or assistance, you may contact the EEO POC in your initial furlough notice. Use of the pre-complaint process described in 5 C.F.R. § 1614.105 does not constitute an election, but the filing of a complaint does.
Office of Special Counsel Complaint: You may file a prohibited personnel action complaint to seek corrective action through the Office of Special Counsel in accordance with subchapters II and III of 5 U.S.C. chapter 12. However, your appeal rights to MSPB will be limited to protected whistleblower disclosures under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) or retaliation for engaging in certain protected activities under 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9). Visit https://osc.gov/ for more information.
The SF-8, Notice to Federal Employee about Unemployment Insurance, is available at the General Services Administration files page. Please be aware that you may be required to repay any unemployment insurance payments once an appropriations bill is enacted and you receive pay for the period of the furlough.
Additional information about unemployment insurance is available at https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/service-locator.aspx.
We recognize the difficult financial implications of any furlough, no matter how limited its length. We will make every effort to keep you informed as additional information regarding the agency funding level becomes available. If you have questions, contact the POC in your initial furlough notice.
-USCG-
Additional information: