As the clock winds down toward a potential shutdown of the U.S. federal government, many observers doubt a deal will be struck in time. A shutdown would send at least 800,000 federal workers home temporarily until Congress compromises on a budget, and only employees deemed “necessary to protect life or property" will stay on the job. That includes uniformed military personnel, federal law enforcement, and guards for government buildings and facilities. The U.S. Capitol Building Image Credit: Tom Harris So what does this mean for federal scientists and their supporting staff? Many federal scientists will be sent home during a potential shutdown, but plans vary significantly for different federal agencies. Here's a quick breakdown for a few agencies supporting physics research:
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