The federal government shutdown went into effect October 1, 2025, and while it is unclear when normal operations will resume, we do know it’s taking a toll on workplace safety. The Department of Labor developed a shutdown contingency plan, published on September 26, 2025, which has been under effect. This plan detailed on their website. This last occurred from December 2018 to January 2019 and lasted for 34 days.

Government shutdowns are a relatively new action. I thought this NPR article on the history of shutdowns and information on the last one was interesting and worth a read: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/01/nx-s1-5559267/government-shutdown-length-history

The current federal government shutdown significantly impacts the OSHA, largely pausing its normal operations.

It’s important to note, however, that the shutdown does not relieve employers of their legal obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Employers must still comply with all mandatory injury and illness reporting and recording requirements.

One interesting fact is that the 22 states and territories that operate their own OSHA-approved State Plans will largely continue their normal operations for inspections, enforcement, and appeals. This is because these state-run agencies are not solely reliant on federal funding. I believe this a great argument for states enacting their own separate OSHA protocols.

Once the shutdown ends, a significant backlog is anticipated across all suspended operations, including inspections, enforcement cases, informal conferences, and rulemaking initiatives.

Here’s a breakdown of how the shutdown is affecting workplace safety, OSHA inspections, and citations:

Federal OSHA operations are severely limited

Mass furloughs: A large majority of federal OSHA staff have been furloughed (approximately 75-90% of the workforce, depending on the source). This leaves only a "skeleton crew" of essential personnel.

Suspended Activities: Most "non-essential" OSHA activities are on hold, including:

• New programmed (routine) inspections.
• Compliance assistance and outreach programs.
• Training classes and technical assistance.
• Rulemaking and other administrative functions.
• Informal conferences and settlement negotiations.

Inspections and enforcement 

Only a small, essential crew remains to focus on the highest-priority, life-saving inspections. These include:

• Imminent danger situations
• Workplace fatalities and catastrophes
• Serious safety and health complaints
• Follow-up inspections on outstanding, high-risk violations.
• Programmed/routine inspections are on hold.

Sources

1. https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/10/how-the-government-shutdown-affects-labor-agencies/#:~:text=Occupational%20Safety%20and%20Health%20Administration,follow%2Dup%20inspections%20of%20serious

2. https://www.environmentalsafetyupdate.com/2025/10/shutdown-guide-navigating-osha-compliance-during-the-federal-government-shutdown/#:~:text=Citations%20will%20still%20be%20issued,failure%20to%20fund%20the%20government.

3. https://www.cbia.com/news/hr-safety/federal-shutdown-idles-osha#:~:text=Standard%20inspections%2C%20informal%20conferences%2C%20rulemaking,safety%20is%20a%20top%20priority%2C