Last Friday, the Department of Labor ("DOL") released a plan for its operations in the event of a shutdown. The plan indicates that approximately 10% of DOL employees will be retained during a shutdown and that the DOL will primarily focus on - 

• work for agencies funded by resources other than the annual appropriations;
• the provision of benefits to workers under entitlement programs; 
• the protection of life and property in cases of imminent threat; and 
• activities authorized to continue by necessary implication to carry out those functions and other excepted activities consistent with OMB and Department of Justice guidelines. 

The plan notes that relevant agencies will pursue and address legal cases or investigations in jeopardy of being lost due to statute of limitations or as otherwise ordered by the court. Unless excepted or exempt, the plan indicates that agencies’ technical assistance, compliance assistance, regulatory, policy, research, advisories, responding to inquiries, most oversight, hearing preparation, and cooperative activities will cease.

The plan indicates that the following agencies will completely cease operations, other than orderly shutdown:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, Veterans Employment and Training Service, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Women’s Bureau, Office of Administrative Law Judges, Administrative Review Board, Benefits Review Board, and Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board.