Education Department Outlines Furlough Plans Ahead of Possible Shutdown

The U.S. Department of Education is preparing for the possibility of a government shutdown as lawmakers face a midnight deadline Tuesday to pass a spending bill.

Department officials say nearly 1,500 of its 1,700 employees would be furloughed, including most of the staff at the Office of Federal Student Aid. A limited number of essential workers would remain on the job to ensure federal loans and grants continue moving.

However, the agency warns it would stop issuing new grants and reviewing civil rights complaints during a shutdown.

If the closure extends beyond a week, the department says it may need to recall some staff on a partial or rotating basis to keep operations functioning.