A USDA contingency plan for a possible FY2026 funding lapse projected that about 42,000 employees—roughly half the department—would be furloughed. That was a plan estimate reported by Reuters on September 30, 2025, not a confirmed count of employees ultimately furloughed or a report of permanent job losses. The plan anticipated that some critical services would continue while much research, data collection and other work paused.
What the “nearly half” estimate means
The figure referred to planned staffing under a specific shutdown scenario. Agencies prepare contingency plans to identify which work may continue under available funding or applicable exceptions and which positions may be furloughed if appropriations lapse. Reuters reported that USDA’s FY2026 plan projected about 42,000 furloughs, roughly half the department’s staff; it does not establish the final nationwide furlough count. Reuters reported the estimate on September 30, 2025.
![Complete Guide to Home Canning: [All 7 Guides in 1 Book] Canning Instruction Book with the Principles and 150 Homemade Easy Canning Recipes, Fruits - ... Foods and Pickles - Jams and Jellies.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51TCKsG817L._SL160_.jpg)
A shutdown furlough is a temporary status associated with a lack of work or funds, not a permanent layoff. The projection should not be read as proof that exactly that many employees stopped working or as an indication that their jobs were eliminated.
Which USDA work the plan expected to continue or pause
Reuters’ account of the plan described different outcomes for different functions. The plan was conditional; these are anticipated actions, not proof that every item occurred as described.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Function | What the plan anticipated |
|---|---|
| Food-safety inspections and some laboratory operations | Designated as mission-critical and expected to continue. |
| Animal-health work | Expected to continue using emergency funds. |
| Most research and non-mandatory data collection | Expected to cease. |
| New farm loans | Expected to halt. |
| Some Farm Service Agency operations | Dependent on how long the shutdown lasted. |
Reuters’ account of USDA’s 2025 plan also described the possible effects on data releases and markets. A separate USDA statement from December 21, 2018 listed activities that could continue during that earlier lapse, including meat, poultry and processed egg inspection, some pest inspections, and selected nutrition and forestry work. That historical plan is not a substitute for the FY2026 plan. USDA’s 2018 statement is specific to that prior shutdown.
What a shutdown could mean for USDA reports and markets
The FY2026 plan anticipated suspending National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data releases and stopping non-mandatory data collection. If official statistics are interrupted, farmers, traders and analysts may have less timely information for decisions. Reuters noted that market-sensitive reports could be affected, while the timing of particular releases remained uncertain. Reuters’ report on the plan describes the anticipated suspension; it does not establish the actual status of every report. Check the release record for a specific report before treating it as cancelled or delayed.
SNAP and WIC: what changed over time
The initial 2025 plan said SNAP administration would continue during a shutdown. It also said WIC would continue, though the National WIC Association warned of possible disruptions if a shutdown lasted more than a week. Those initial expectations did not guarantee uninterrupted benefits in every place or month. Reuters reported the plan’s initial position.
On October 27, 2025, North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services said October SNAP benefits in the state were not affected, but November benefits could be delayed if the shutdown continued. The department said North Carolina had not received the necessary federal funding as of that date. It also reported that USDA’s October 24 guidance said the department would not use roughly $6 billion in federal contingency funds for November SNAP and would not reimburse states that used their own funds. These statements describe the state’s report of federal guidance at that time, not a nationwide account of final benefit outcomes. North Carolina DHHS’s October 27 update provides the state’s account.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe scale cited by North Carolina was substantial but state-specific: more than 600,000 households, comprising 1.4 million residents, were due November SNAP benefits, valued at about $230 million to $250 million per month. Those figures are not national totals. The state’s release gives the figures and their context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What USDA employees should know about furlough instructions
The Office of Personnel Management describes a shutdown furlough as an involuntary, temporary status in which an employee is placed in a non-duty, non-pay status because of a lack of work or funds. OPM’s general guidance says employees should continue reporting unless their agency’s personnel office, supervisor or an official announcement instructs otherwise. USDA employees should follow the instructions in their own agency notices; general OPM guidance does not replace an individual USDA direction. OPM’s furlough guidance explains the general rule.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
