Topics on this page: Summary of Activities that Continue | Summary of Activities that will Not Continue | Summary of Contingency Staffing Plan
Summary of Activities that Continue
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will use the full extent of the authority under the Anti-deficiency Act (ADA) to protect life and property under a lapse in appropriations.
Responses to urgent disease outbreaks and continuing efforts to support the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program will also continue.
Summary of Activities That will Not Continue
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) SMEs would not be available to provide guidance to state and local health departments implementing programs to protect the public's health (e.g., opioid overdose prevention, HIV prevention, diabetes prevention). We would not be able to provide communication to the American public about important health-related information. There would no longer be ongoing applied public health research by CDC and ATSDR scientists to improve prevention modalities. Investigation of risk factors, etc. would be suspended. Response to public inquiries about public health matters would be suspended. Analysis of surveillance data for reportable diseases would be suspended. Critical year-end surveillance reports would be delayed. Grant funding announcements would not be prepared, which will result in compressed times for applicants, such as state and local health departments and universities, to apply for funding.
Summary of Contingency Staffing Plan
In the event of a lapse of appropriations, 4,111 (34%) of CDC and ATSDR staff will be retained including 1,784 (15%) who are exempt (their activities or position are already funded or otherwise exempt) and 2,327 (19%) who are excepted (their activities are deemed necessary by implication, or for the safely of human life or protection of property).
Exempt Staff:
A total of 1,784 (15%) CDC and ATSDR staff will be performing activities without funding issues and are exempt; this includes include staff who are normally paid from or shifted to: administrative funds or user fees appropriated in authorizing legislation, carryover funding or advanced appropriations, or reimbursable funding for which the reimbursement is not paid from funds provided by the lapsed FY 2026 appropriation.
Excepted Staff:
A total of 2,327(19%) CDC and ATSDR staff are considered excepted and can legally continue their activities in the absence of appropriations. These staff fall into three categories; 1) those whose work is necessary for the safety of human life, 2) those whose work is necessary for the protection of property, and 3) those whose work is "necessarily implied" from the authorized continuation of other activities. Excepted staff will continue activities ensuring the protection of government research property, and inanimate property and, duties are necessary to ensure the ongoing support and operations of funded activities, or for the orderly phase down and suspension of non-funded activities. These CDC and ATSDR staff will continue to provide the necessary operational support to ensure the centers and offices can continue authorized and funded activities.