How a Government Shutdown Could Affect FAA and DoD Review Processes
With federal funding set to expire on October 1, FAA and DoD personnel involved in the Obstruction Evaluation process are preparing for a possible government shutdown. As of Thursday, September 25, both the FAA and DoD plan to follow procedures used during previous shutdowns.
Based on our experience with previous shutdowns, here’s what you can expect expect:
Specific to the FAA Aeronautical Study Process
- We expect the FAA portal to accept new filings in their online portal. However, we don’t expect any reviews to begin. No notices or determinations will be until operations resume.
- The FAA is likely to designate minimal critical personnel for emergency actions only, defined as those affecting immediate public safety.
Specific to the DoD Review Process
- The Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse will pause work on Mitigation Response Team (MRTs) and drafting, or signing, Mitigation Agreements.
- No new Notices of Presumed Risk (NPRs) will be issued.
- Final determinations (positive or negative) are considered inherently governmental functions and will not occur until operations resume.
- Contract staff may provide status updates but are unlikely to take significant action on projects.
Post-Shutdown Expectations
When the government reopens, we expect a surge in project activity that will impact turnaround times for both existing and new filings. Based on experience, delays may extend to two to three times the length of the shutdown as agencies work through the backlog.
