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Federal health programs under a shutdown

Contingency plans are in place to keep key federal health programs operating during the government shutdown, but repercussions are still expected, including another mass layoff.

© Greg Nash

The government shutdown is expected to persist until at least Friday, when lawmakers return from the Yom Kippur holiday.

In that time, 32,460 employees under the Department of Health and Human Services, 41 percent of the department, will be furloughed.

Medicare and Medicaid payments are ensured until at least partially into next year. And agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are retaining the majority of their staff, though approvals for new products may be delayed as the agency pauses applications.

Agencies partially exempted

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