Many Federal Aides Go Home Early Thanks to Bill’s Delay

Thousands of federal workers in Southern California were sent home before noon Friday by administrators ordered to excuse “non-essential” government workers early because of delay in enactment of a funding bill by Congress.

Particularly hard hit was the Internal Revenue Service. Of its 3,000 employees here, all but “a couple of hundred” workers were released at noon, said IRS spokeswoman Lowell Langers.

The Social Security Administration drastically curtailed service. About 10% of its 1,500 staff members remained on the job Friday afternoon.

“We can’t do a whole lot,” admitted spokesman Joe Giglio. “If somebody definitely has to talk to us, if he’s lost his check, we can still help.”

Parts of the downtown and Westwood federal buildings seemed virtually deserted by early afternoon but the U.S. Courthouse downtown remained open for business.

Although about 70 janitors and maintenance workers were sent home early, judges, clerks, U.S. attorneys and U.S. marshals remained on duty while trials continued.

Most federal law enforcement personnel were qualified as “essential” workers and stayed at their posts at the FBI, Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service, though many agency clerks had the afternoon off.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elly Brekke said that non-essential personnel had left their desks by 10:30 a.m., though all flight controllers, safety inspectors and other “key personnel” continued to work.