Contingency plans are developing in case the federal government shuts down Monday.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order closing all executive departments and agencies on Christmas Eve if lawmakers can’t pass a budget proposal. Employees would be excused from duty. It will be up to department heads to determine if certain offices have to stay open, especially in cases of national security, defense or “other public need.”
Lawmakers are grappling with a funding package to avoid a third partial to total shutdown in federal operations over the past 12 months, including shutdowns in January and February.
There are several federal offices in Emporia.
*USDA office at 3020 West 18th
*Social Security office at 3010 West 18th
*Army Reserve Center at 1412 East Sixth
*US Marines recruiting office inside Flinthills Mall.
In addition, US Fish and Wildlife Services has an office in Hartford near the Flint Hills Wildlife Refuge. The Army Corps of Engineers also handles water flow issues along the Neosho River and maintains larger lakes including John Redmond Reservoir in Coffey County and Melvern Lake in Osage County.
