More than 90 people at Richmond-based United Network for Organ Sharing have been furloughed due to the federal government shutdown.
Why it matters: The federal organ procurement and transplant network has paused many operations, and these affected Richmond workers won’t get back pay once the shutdown ends, a UNOS spokesperson tells Axios.
State of play: Last week, the Health and Human Services Department ordered UNOS to halt much of its work until the government reopens.
- The Jackson Ward-based nonprofit can continue matching and allocating organs and communicating with patients on waitlists / to address life-threatening risks, but little else.
- UNOS manages most network functions under a government contract.
Zoom in: UNOS said in a statement it isn’t in a “position to continue funding the salaries of employees … when the government has indicated it will not cover those costs.”
- UNOS also noted that the federal government owes it more than $10 million for work already completed.
The other side: HHS told Axios that risk monitoring and essential functions of the network should continue without interruption…