The government shutdown has now entered its fourth week but the information below remains accurate as of October 27, 2025.
Amid the government shutdown, Correia & Puth attorneys Subhashini Bollini and Kelsey Speyer continue to provide advice to federal government employees who have been affected by reductions in force, loss of government benefits, and other adverse consequences as a result of the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate employment protections for the federal service and downsize the federal government. Subha and Kelsey serve as expert advisors to the Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, a network of volunteer attorneys founded earlier this year to provide legal assistance to federal employees who have been affected by recent, unprecedented changes to the civil service.
As the government shutdown enters its third week, it is important for federal workers to be aware of the shutdown’s impact on the availability of services from the federal agencies charged with adjudicating their employment-related claims and any deadlines associated with their claims. Currently, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), who adjudicate many federal employees’ employment claims associated with whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, and harassment, have halted most of their services. For workers hoping to file new claims or obtain an update on current charges, it is important to review each agency’s current directives.
- MSPB: For federal workers with pending cases, all filing and processing deadlines will be extended by the number of calendar days MSPB is shut down. However, this does not apply to deadlines that passed prior to the shutdown. For federal employees intending to file new cases or appeals, MSPB’s e-Appeal system is currently unavailable and will be reactivated once MSPB reopens. For more information, check out the MSPB’s website.
- EEOC: For private sector employees hoping to file an EEOC charge, the EEOC’s public portal remains open for the filing of new charges. Once the government reopens, the EEOC will work to process any charges filed during the shutdown. For federal employees with cases pending before the EEOC, federal sector hearings and appeals of discrimination are cancelled and postponed until further notice. Lastly, no FOIA requests are being processed at this time. For more information, check out the EEOC’s website.
- Agency EEOs: For federal workers hoping to file complaints of discrimination with their agency’s EEO offices, the EEO complaint filing deadlines may be extended for the number of days of the shutdown if the deadline was on or after October 1. However, this may vary due to the operating status of the agency’s EEO office. Please check with your agency’s EEO office to determine whether it is accepting new complaints or other submissions during the shutdown.
For more information on the status of the MSPB or EEOC, visit their online directives.
If you are a federal employee who has been impacted by the Trump Administration’s conduct, or have questions about your employment, please contact us or visit Rise Up’s website to request a consultation.
