Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA President Carter Urges Congress to Prevent a Government Shutdown - September 30, 2025

• Alexandria, VA – Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations expire at midnight tonight, September 30, 2025, and FY26 appropriations have not been signed into law. With a government shutdown looming, Federal Managers Association's (FMA) National President Craig Carter, released the following statement imploring Congress to pass a compromise to avert a government shutdown that would negatively impact all Americans:

  "The current fiscal year is nearly over, and not a single appropriations bill has been signed into law. Unless Congress acts, funding for federal agencies and departments will lapse and the government will begin another shutdown. Under a shutdown, many of our members, and federal employees across the country, would be told to stay home. While this would obviously negatively impact them and their families, all Americans will feel the pain. Worse, the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) has told agencies to prepare to use the potential shutdown as a justification to issue widespread reductions in force (RIF) notices, possibly decimating our federal workforce.

  "Federal managers want to be at their posts fulfilling their congressionally mandated missions and providing important services to every citizen in the United States. Instead, they must waste time and resources preparing for a potential shutdown. Delaying appropriations and flirting with government shutdowns results in egregious costs and waste, even if a shutdown is averted. It takes significant time and resources for agencies to prepare for a potential shutdown. Private sector business would never manage a budget this way, and neither should Congress.

  “We are aware that Congressional leaders are seeking a continuing resolution (CR) to allow for more time to finalize FY26 funding. FMA grudgingly supports a CR in lieu of a shutdown. However, by not appropriating funds, and working under a CR every year, agencies incur extra costs and lose the ability to best plan for the coming year, including being able to buy equipment and supplies in bulk to save money.

  “As a country, we need to quickly find a solution to this recurring problem of a potential government shutdown each year. That is why today I am on Capitol Hill, speaking to members of Congress to urge them to keep the federal government working to ensure American citizens are served as they should be. It is critical that members of Congress work together in a bipartisan manner to fund the U.S. Government and prevent a shutdown."

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