The federal government will open for business as usual on Jan. 3, 2000, Office of Personnel Management Director Janice Lachance said Thursday.
Though Congress this year considered a bill (H.J.Res. 14) that would have designated Jan. 3 as a federal holiday, the bill never passed. Some lawmakers thought the holiday would be a good idea to give agencies an extra day to work out problems caused by the year 2000 computer bug.
"Unless you hear otherwise, federal agencies of the United States government in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area will be open on Monday, Jan. 3, 2000," Lachance said in a statement. "All federal employees will be expected to report for work on time."
Outside of the metropolitan Washington D.C. area, decisions on whether federal offices are open or closed are left to agencies and regional Federal Executive Boards. But for now, all federal employees should plan to show up for work on Jan. 3.
Employees in the Washington area can call OPM's hotline at 202-606-1900 for updated information on the government's operating status.
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