Bishop: Plum Island Operating With 'Limited Staff' During Shutdown

The Federal Animal Disease Center at Plum Island is operating with a skeleton crew as the federal government's shutdown continues.

On Friday, Congressman Tim Bishop addressed the impacts the shutdown is having locally.

"Plum Island is currently operating on a limited staff that is ensuring the security and safety of the island," he said.

 Most of the staff at PIADC is furloughed, though a skeleton staff is in place to ensure the animals are taken care of and the labs and other buildings on the island are secure, Bishop said.

While Bishop said the exact figure of employees working is not known, the number is based on general Department of Homeland Security guidelines.

“I am focused on getting the government open after a needless shutdown and protecting our nation from defaulting on its credit at the hands of irresponsible and reckless members of the House of Representatives," Bishop said.

According to Bishop, only sensitive research or activities related to national security at the Plum were currently exempt from the shutdown. 

Bishop said he was awaiting official confirmation on the research center's furlough schedule, but said he believes that only 20 of the disease center's 650 employees remained working. 

"Researchers have undoubtedly been sent home unless they fall under the exemption," said Bishop. "Therefore, only a skeleton crew to protect the island and perform critical maintenance is likely to be in place." 

And that's not the only facility in the area to be affected: On Friday, Bishop said if the shutdown extends beyond October 22, then Calverton National Cemetery would be forced to furlough approximately two thirds of its workers. 

Currently, there are 100 workers at the cemetery; the furlough would leave only 29.

The move would decrease maintenance like grass cutting and reduce the number of burials that can be conducted on a daily basis.

“I am focused on getting the government open after a needless shutdown and protecting our nation from defaulting on its credit at the hands of irresponsible and reckless members of the House of Representatives," Bishop said Friday.

Earlier, Bishop had said operations at the cemetery would remain fully funded until mid-October, however, it the shut-down continued, the employees would be furloughed.

Bishop, has called the furloughs across the board, including ones made on Tuesday at the 106 Rescue Wing in Westhampton, avoidable.

He said, "The House GOP has voted to ensure a harmful, and completely avoidable, shutdown of federal government operations beginning today. It is deeply reckless that the House leadership and its Tea Party-dominated caucus have abdicated their responsibility to govern and, instead, have chosen to pursue partisan political goals at the expense of the American people’s interests."