D.C.-Area Feds May Take Unscheduled Leave as Metro Shuts Down for 29 Hours

This story has been updated.

D.C.-area federal employees will get some unexpected leave or telework this week as the subway serving hundreds of thousands of Washington-area workers will shut down for at least 29 hours Wednesday and Thursday morning for safety inspections and potential repairs.

OPM announced that agencies in the area are open and that feds "have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework." The announcement was made Tuesday evening on OPM's social media channels and website

3/16: Due to metro closure, Fed agencies in DC have option for unscheduled leave/telework → https://t.co/XNpFS40aXT pic.twitter.com/kThqGXEzSP

— OPM (@USOPM) March 15, 2016

In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld and Metro Board of Governors Chairman Jack Evans said the Washington Metro Area Transit Agency will shut down the system's subway system to inspect 600 cables in the rail system. The shutdown will begin at midnight Tuesday night.

"We must take this action immediately," Wiedefeld said. "To risk [rider safety] I cannot do that."

A cable fire near the McPherson Square station choked Metro service Monday morning. One Metro rider died after a similar but larger fire filled a train car with smoke in 2015.

"Safety is paramount," Evans said Tuesday. "We need to get to the bottom of this."

The Office of Personnel Management is working with local governments and WMATA to decide on possible leave or telework for feds this week.

"OPM will have guidance for agencies on the status of the federal government shortly," a statement from OPM Press Secretary Samuel Schumach said.

(Image via Flickr user RJ Schmidt)