Related: Federal vs. State & Local Fleets
Federal Shutdown Affects Select Fleets
The federal government shutdown, now entering its 19th day, has shut down various federal agencies, affecting about 800,000 federal employees.

Photo via MPD01605/Flickr
The federal government shutdown, now entering its 19th day, has shut down various federal agencies. According to the New York Times, it is affecting about 800,000 federal employees.
As for fleets, some are highly affected while others aren’t affected at all, said Gary Hatfield, CFFM, associate vice president of Mercury Associates and the consulting group’s federal fleet expert. The Department of Defense fleets and the Postal Service are not affected. The executive agencies affected are the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, State, Transportation, and Treasury, he said.
“The degree of impact varies, but so-called ‘mission-critical’ operations must continue to be supported even if the agency is largely shut down, so fleet operations must continue to function and employees are required to work without pay. Others are furloughed, or placed on temporary leave,” he added.
Federal fleets are not the only ones affected by the shutdown. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has paused the regulation of vehicle recalls, and will not post updates on its website until the end of the shutdown.
Editor's Note: This story was updated Jan. 10 with information about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
More Operations

BRINC Drones Adds Free Wildfire and Smoke Tracking as Agencies Across America Battle Active Fires
New map layers give public safety agencies real-time fire detections and smoke conditions integrated directly into LiveOps at no additional cost.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Your fleet may have the right policies, but are they being followed consistently? This practical guide highlights six hidden compliance risks that can undermine public sector and shared fleet operations and shares proven approaches to improve oversight, drive accountability, and maintain audit readiness.
Read More →
Dealing With Workplace Fraud in Fleets
Workplace fraud in government organizations can result in significant financial losses, but understanding its causes and implementing effective controls can help mitigate the risk.
Read More →
Mercury Associates Returns to Independent Ownership
New owners John Martin, Brad Smith, and Daniel Reichmann plan to expand Mercury’s analytical capabilities while continuing to grow the CFMO program.
Read More →
Fleet Technology Targets Inspections, EV Procurement, and Parts Sourcing
How new technology is addressing routine operational challenges, from vehicle inspections to cooperative purchasing.
Read More →
Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Orders Three New Aerial Ladder Trucks
As Murfreesboro's population grows, its fire fleet is growing with it. Three new aerial ladder trucks will replace existing frontline apparatus and equip a new ladder company planned for Station 12.
Read More →
Fleetio Launches PartsTech Integration, Helping Fleets Save up to 15 Minutes on Each Purchase Order
Integration brings parts sourcing and ordering into one connected Fleetio workflow to reduce administrative work.
Read More →
What’s Holding Your Fleet Back?
Catch up on the week with news around creating a more structured operation, examining an outdated garage, and more.
Read More →
When Better Communication Makes Fleets More Efficient
How government fleet operations can use routine communication to address underused vehicles while giving employees and customer departments a clearer way to raise concerns.
Read More →
How Dakota County Built a More Structured Fleet Operation
Kevin Schlangen shares how Dakota County’s fleet moved from reactive repairs and limited oversight to a more structured approach built around planning, training, and long-term cost control.
Read More →

