A budget director for Governor Pat Quinn says if the federal government shutdown proceeds, Illinois employees paid by federal funds could face temporary layoffs as early as Wednesday.
The budget office had no estimates Monday for how many employees would be affected. Abdon Pallasch is Quinn's assistant budget director. In a statement, he says that the timing of the layoffs would depend on existing resources and individual agencies. Agencies that could be affected include the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Veterans Affairs and Military Affairs.
During the last shutdown in 1995, about 1,200 Illinois employees were temporarily laid off. They were hired back after two weeks. Pallasch says most state agencies have sufficient funds to provide services in the short term, but a longer term shutdown would have a greater impact.
