Ohio Alerts Thousands State Employees Potential Furloughs Amid Federal Shutdown

Ohio state officials have notified approximately 9,000 employees across six agencies of potential furloughs due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which is the second longest in U.S. history and may become the longest if it continues. The agencies affected include the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Department of Health, Department of Job and Family Services, and Department of Public Safety. While the notification serves as a 14-day warning required by union contracts, less than half of those alerted are expected to actually be furloughed if funding remains paused. Governor Mike DeWine has taken steps to mitigate impacts, such as allocating $25 million to support food banks and low-income Ohioans amid disruptions to programs like SNAP, which a federal judge ordered to continue funding during the shutdown. State officials emphasize that employees will be individually notified before any furloughs occur and are hopeful for a resolution from Washington that would prevent furloughs. The situation remains under daily evaluation, and further updates will be provided as necessary.