With a potential government shutdown pending, Nebraska-U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts announced yesterday on social media that his offices will remaining open throughout.
All my offices will remain open & fully staffed to continue serving Nebraskans regardless of any shutdown.@POTUS should do the same with all federal agencies. The American people shouldn’t suffer because Biden decided to give his staff a paid vacation on taxpayer dollars.
— Senator Pete Ricketts (@SenatorRicketts) September 27, 2023
When there is a government shutdown, federal agencies, U.S. Senators, and Members of Congress are required to classify their employees as either “essential” or “non-essential.” The employees classified as “essential” continue to work during the shutdown. Employees classified as “non-essential” are not required to come into work. Both receive backpay after the government reopens.
Senator Ricketts has deemed his entire team as essential, or excepted. Each of his offices (Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff, and Washington, D.C.) will remain fully staffed during normal business hours for the duration of a potential government shutdown.