Workforce

OPM closes D.C.-area government on Tuesday

The Office of Personnel Management has decided the government in the D.C. area will remain closed one more day.

Jason Miller@jmillerWFED

January 25, 2016 6:39 pm

1 min read

Don’t miss the latest operating status news. Sign up for Federal News Radio email alerts.

The Office of Personnel Management has decided the government in the D.C. area will remain closed one more day.

OPM met with the Metropolitan Council of Governments Monday night to discuss the latest information about the current state of the roads and the mass transit systems. OPM heard from local governments and state and county transportation authorities and decided it best to wait one more day given overnight temperatures expected to be in the teens and roads going to freeze.

OPM’s decision follows a similar one by the Baltimore Federal Executive Board, which made the decision on Monday night to close federal offices in that part of Maryland for Tuesday.

OPM closed the government in the Washington, D.C. area Monday and let federal employees leave by 12 p.m. on Friday as the historic snow storm hit the region. Baltimore also closed its federal offices while Newark, N.J. and Philadelphia FEBs recommended opening two-hours late on Monday.

OPM’s decision was based on a number of different factors, including the status of the mass transit system, both the metro and the commuter trains, as well as the safety of workers getting to their offices. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced Monday it would resume service on all but the Silver Line. Stations will open at 5 a.m., with trains running every 12 minutes or so. Regular fares will be in place.

Many area school systems remain closed through Thursday, and transportation officials are urging the public to stay off the roads as much as possible to give road crews time and room to move snow and clear the streets.