DRA Shutdown Plan 1 Updated: 9/24/2021

Delta Regional Authority

Lapse Plan for FY 2022

The following information is provided to detail the plan for Delta Regional Authority operations in the 

event of an appropriations hiatus.

Appropriations to the Authority have been made on an indefinite “no-year” basis, and specifically, “remain 

available until expended.” All funds for the administration of the Office of the Federal Co-Chairman, as 

well as funds for payment of the Federal share of the administrative expenses of the Authority, are derived 

from a “lump sum” no year appropriation.

The Delta Regional Authority is comprised of two separate and distinct fiscal entities: (1) the Office of 

the Federal Co-Chairman (the “federal partner”) and (2) the Delta Regional Authority, which is the entity 

jointly led by the federal partner and the Authority’s eight participating member states. The Office of the 

Federal Co-Chairman is funded with 100 percent federal funds, while the administrative expenses of the 

DRA are funded through 50 percent federal funds and 50 percent state funds provided by DRA’s member 

states.

It is the Authority’s understanding that regardless of the status of its full-year 2022 appropriation, the 

Authority may continue to incur obligations to the extent that those obligations can be funded by balances 

from it prior “no year” appropriations. Language in OMB Circular A-11, Section 124, Agency Operations 

in the absence of an Appropriation, indicates that "Federal Agencies may incur no obligation that cannot 

lawfully be funded from prior year appropriations unless such obligations are authorized by law." DRA's 

specific no-year authorization within its appropriation language does allow the agency to incur obligations 

from the beginning of FY 2022 using prior year balances.

Therefore, as the Authority recognizes that, through its prior-year federal and state balances, it could fund 

the administrative activities of both the Office of the Federal Co-Chairman and the Authority for an 

extended period of time; the agency will continue full operations and full staffing until its no-year funds 

are exhausted.

Additionally, DRA will use no-year funding that exceeds its annual administrative expenses to fund its 

congressionally mandated infrastructure-investment funds: States' Economic Development Assistance 

Program and Community Infrastructure Fund.
DRA Shutdown Plan 2 Updated: 9/24/2021

Should a complete shutdown of DRA operations become necessary, the agency will furlough all 

employees except the highest ranking employee to finalize the complete shutdown activities and to protect 

government property.

The Chairman and his staff will work with OMB and GSA prior to that point as necessary to ensure files 

and records are secure, confidential material and government property are protected, notifications of the 

suspension of DRA activities are made, and any necessary administrative functions relevant to the 

shutdown are performed.

Delta Regional Authority FY 2022 Lapse Plan during Appropriations Hiatus

Lapse Plan Summary Overview

Estimated time (to nearest half day) required to complete shutdown activities:

After prior year funds are exhausted. | 5 days

 |

Total number of agency employees expected to be on board before implementation |

of the plan | 12 FTEs

 |

Total number of employees to be retained under the plan for each of the following categories:

Compensation is financed by a resource other than annual appropriations: | 1 FTE

Necessary to perform activities expressly authorized by law: | 1 FTE

Necessary to perform activities necessarily implied by law: | 1 FTE

Necessary to the discharge of the President’s constitutional duties and powers: | 1 FTE

Necessary to protect life and property: | 1 FTE

Brief summary of significant agency activities that will continue during a lapse:

No significant activities will cease as long as prior year funding is available to cover those activities, 

at which time those prior year funds are exhausted all activities within the agency will cease.

Brief Summary of significant agency activities that will cease during a lapse:

Economic development activities such as issuing grants or reimbursing state and local agencies for

expenditures on approved federal financial assistance awards.