By Sarah DeGravell-Ferguson and David Bauder,The Associated PressWASHINGTON — The manpower agency at the heart of the controversy over a massive federal shutdown is shutting down, according to a letter sent to Congress by the head of the agency.
The agency has about 2,300 employees, according the letter, and the agency has been under budget cuts since September.
The letter was sent Thursday by John Hickey, head of operations for the Office of Personnel Management.
The Office of Management and Budget has said the shutdowns are necessary to protect taxpayer dollars.
The shutdowns come amid mounting public pressure over the federal government’s handling of the government shutdown and a series of government shutdowns in recent years.
The Obama administration is seeking to make changes to the way the government operates and to the size of the federal workforce.
The OMB letter did not specify how many employees are impacted.
The agency says it will take whatever steps are necessary, including seeking an injunction from the U.S. Supreme Court to force the shutdown.
