Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations Breadcrumb
    Home
                              About
                              Budget
                              Office of the Secretary
 Navigate to:
  HHS Family of Agencies
                                            
            
            HHS Agencies & Offices
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Regional Offices
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Advisory Committees, Task Forces & Initiatives
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Organizational Chart
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      Leadership
    
                                                  
                                                    
            
      
      
      
      Budget & Performance
                                            
            
            FY 2025 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2025 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2024 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2024 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2024 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2023 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2023 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2023 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2022 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2022 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2022 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2021 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2021 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2021 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2020 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2020 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      FY 2020 Annual Performance Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2019 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      FY 2019 Annual Performance Report
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Plan FY 2022 - 2026
                                            
            
            Message from the Secretary
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Introduction: About HHS
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Overview: Strategic Plan FY 2022 - 2026
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 1: Protect and Strengthen Equitable Access to High Quality and Affordable Healthcare
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 2: Safeguard and Improve National and Global Health Conditions and Outcomes
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 3: Strengthen Social Well-Being, Equity, and Economic Resilience
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 4: Restore Trust and Accelerate Advancements in Science and Research for All
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 5: Advance Strategic Management to Build Trust, Transparency, and Accountability
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Appendix: Plan Updates
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      News
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      I Am HHS
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      CareersText resize icon

                    




Office of the Secretary








  
  
    

  
      



**Topics on this page:** Summary of Activities that Continue | Summary of Contingency Staffing Plan
Summary of Activities that Continue

The Office of the Secretary reports the contingency staffing numbers for 16 Staff Divisions and the Program Support Center. In the event of a lapse in appropriation, excepted staff in the Immediate Office of the Secretary would continue to provide leadership and key support staff to ensure Department operations and national security related activities continue; the Intergovernmental and External Affairs Regional Directors will continue to support stakeholders in the regions; the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources' budget and grants staff will continue to support the Department's fully funded programs and will assist with orderly phase down of operations.

Summary of Contingency Staffing Plan

In the event of a lapse in appropriation 4,329 (64%) of OS staff will be retained, including 3,492 (51%) who are exempt (their activities or position are already funded or otherwise exempted) and 837 (12%) who are excepted (their activities are deemed necessary by implication, or for the safety of human life or protection of property).

**Exempt Staff:**

A total of 3,492 (51%) OS staff will be exempt. Exempt OS staff includes eight HHS Officers appointed by the President and 3,479 staff who support activities that have funding available during a lapse in appropriations.

The activities which will continue due to available funding include OIG's oversight activities, MHA case adjudication; OCR HIPAA related investigations, and OGA's support of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief initiative. DAB will continue to provide administrative hearings and appeals of Center for Tobacco Products decisions, Federal Food, Drugs, and Cosmetic, and OS will continue Patient Centered Outcomes Research and the Physician's Technical Advisory Committee activities.****ASA will continue COVID-19 related activities to support information technology and other Department-wide coordination support. In addition, ASA and OIG staff will be retained to maintain computers and data, including those in support of COVID-19 activities.

**Excepted Staff:**

A total of 837 (12%) OS staff are considered excepted and can legally continue their activities in the absence of appropriations. These staff fall into three categories; 1) those whose work is necessary for the safety of human life, 2) those whose work is necessary for the protection of property, and 3) those whose work is "necessarily implied" from the authorized continuation of other activities or the need to phase down and suspend operations.

In addition to OS exempt staff supporting Department operations and national security related activities, the Office of the General Counsel would provide legal support and the Program Support Center would continue to process payments and transfers to ensure fully funded programs continue operations and that funded entitlements are paid.

ASPR will have 253 (28%) staff who are considered excepted and can legally continue their activities in the absence of appropriations. These staff will continue to perform vital tasks related to ongoing and new response activities for hurricanes, flu, COVID-19, and other public health emergencies and disasters that may arise. In addition to ASA and OIG, ASPR staff will be retained to maintain computers and data, including those in support of COVID-19 activities.

ASPR will retain staff supporting COVID response and advance development, hurricane and flu responses, staff to maintain minimal readiness levels for all hazards, preparedness, and response operations. Such staff includes Emergency Management and Medical Operations and BARDA acquisition personnel, who would continue to support Operation Warp Speed's medical countermeasure program by negotiating, awarding, and managing contracts that are critical to the response effort. The technical oversight and management of BARDA staff is necessary to continue the required reporting to leadership and stakeholders, which is essential to ensure that preparedness and response activities advance as quickly as possible.

OASH will have 83 (22%) staff to support COVID-19 activities. Of the seven individuals required for an orderly phase-down and suspension of operations, three staff are critical to ensure the continued operations and management of OASH's COVID-19 supplemental funding and corresponding work. These three individuals are the leads for COVID Laboratory and Diagnostics, Program Specialist/COR, and Budget Analyst. Given the current emergency, OASH has a designated employee who is now working exclusively on COVID-19, managing and directing the Testing and Diagnostics Work Group (TDWG). In the event of a lapse, the work in support of the Testing Plan will continue, and given the ever-evolving landscape, the TDWG Lead's expertise and direction will be critical to ensuring that gains made are not lost. Much of the TDWG work involves the management of contracts and procurements. The COR and budget analyst are essential in ensuring that all contracting needs are met, contractor work is monitored, and any new needs can be addressed. Similarly, a budget analyst is required to ensure funds are available, managed, and all obligations are carried through. OASH has 74 Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officers who will continue working under this exception.

<< FY 2021 HHS Contingency Staffing Plan
		Top of page
		FY 2021 Lapse Plan Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) >>

                    
  


Content created by Office of Budget (OB) Content last reviewed December 18, 2020 Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​