USDA Shutdown Plan Reveals Over 42,000 Employees FurloughedAs part of federal requirements, the White House Office of Management and Budget mandates that the USDA maintain a contingency plan for operations in the event of a government shutdown. The plan shows a total of 85,907 USDA employees on board before the government shutdown took place on Wednesday morning at 12 am. More than 6,000 of the 9,000-plus Farm Service Agency employees are going on furlough. As the USDA shutdown continues, the disruption to key services—especially those supporting producers and rural communities—could grow more severe. Over 40,000 USDA Employees Furloughed By Shutdown