About 80% of Department of Commerce employees were furloughed as of Wednesday’s government shutdown, according to reports. That figure likely includes hundreds of researchers at NOAA’s Boulder facilities.
As a general rule, during a government shutdown NOAA functions that are critical to protecting life and property continue, while most other activities — such as research, outreach and administrative functions — are suspended. Employees and researchers responsible for “nonessential” functions are furloughed, while NOAA employees responsible for critical functions, like weather forecasts, are expected to continue working without pay.
According to shutdown guidance issued in 2025, for the first two to four days of a shutdown fewer than 30 people are required to come in “to perform necessary activities to discontinue operations across multiple laboratory environments” at NOAA research labs, including four in Boulder that employ about 350 federal workers.
Boulder’s National Weather Service office is considered essential and will continue to operate 24/7.
While an internal source told Boulder Reporting Lab the Department of Commerce did not circulate a shutdown plan this year, the 2025 guidance indicates that research activities related to climate, ocean science, habitat conservation and other non-critical projects are likely suspended, as are tours at NOAA’s Boulder facilities.