By Tennille Tracy

    If the federal government shuts down, the Energy Department will be in the unique position of maintaining a full staff, at least for a time.

    In an email sent to DOE employees this week, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the department will be able to operate “for a limited time” because of the way its funding is structured.

    The department gets the grace period because it receives appropriations from Congress on a “no-year” basis, and can use that money until it runs out. Also, it can’t furlough its workers until the no-year funding is gone. The department gets the funding because it undertake a lot of multi-year projects such as cleaning up radioactive waste in Washington state and South Carolina.

    As a result, the Energy Department will be able to perform most major functions, including projects to clean up nuclear waste sites and ensure the safety of nuclear warheads. It will also publish routine energy data, conduct research and oversee loan guarantees and grants.

    “We want to emphasize that it will not be necessary to furlough any department federal employees early next week as a consequence of the expiration” of 2011 appropriations, Mr. Chu said.



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