Workforce

DC-area federal offices to open on time on Jan. 17

After meeting with D.C.-area officials, OPM decided there was no reason for a delayed opening on Wednesday morning.

Jason Miller@jmillerWFED

January 16, 2018 5:37 pm

2 min read

The Office of Personnel Management determined federal agencies in the Washington, D.C. metro area will open at their regular time on Wednesday.

An OPM spokesman said the agency held a call with the Council of Metropolitan Governments, along with Transportation Department officials, Metro, school districts and other local entities and decided there was no reason for a delayed opening.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. on Wednesday with snow expected to fall in the Washington region. According to Federal News Radio’s sister station WTOP light snow fell overnight causing some road ways to be slick.

Beyond the DC region, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River in Maryland decided on a two-hour delay because of the winter weather. Officials say employees should arrive two-hours later than their normal scheduled start time.

For all closing and delayed openings in the Washington, D.C. metro region, check out WTOP’s listings.

Other FEBs in Philadelphia, New York City and New Jersey aren’t expected to need a call as snow fall is expected to be much lighter.

OPM appears to have made no changes to its dismissals and closures procedures for this year, but the agency reminded federal employees in the Washington metro area of the channels they should visit to check the government’s operating status.

In the event that Wednesday’s snowfall causes some disruption inside the Washington Capital Beltway, OPM will determine whether the government opens on time, delays its opening, closes and/or allows federal employees to use unscheduled leave or telework.

“OPM’s operating status announcements are only effective if each employee understands what the announcement means and how to react,” the agency said in its 2016-2017 dismissal and closure guidance for the Washington, D.C. area. “Every OPM announcement should be accompanied by specific agency procedures in continuity of operations plans, written telework agreements and/or collective bargaining agreements, as consistent with law.”‘

OPM encouraged federal employees in the Washington metro area to download the OPM Alert mobile app, which lists the current and active operating status and sends push notifications to inform users of any changes.

Feds can also find the government operating status for the Washington area on OPM’s website or social media channels.

Federal News Radio will have the latest on our website, Facebook and Twitter pages as more information becomes available.