Richmond organ transplant contractor pauses 'much of its critical work' due to government shutdown

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond-based nonprofit United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which is federally contracted to oversee organ transplants in the U.S., was directed to pause "much of its critical work" due to the federal government shutdown.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Oct. 8, UNOS, which operates the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), said it has been affected by a federal government shutdown for the first time.

The nonprofit was reportedly directed by the Health and Human Services Department to pause "much of its critical work," including some committee work that affects organ allocation and patient care.

UNOS said it continues to operate the organ matching system and patient services line, and to address the safety of patients, but the pause on m