According to the NRC's shutdown plan, approved by the Office of Management and Budget, the agency will retain about 300 of its current 3,900 employees for "excepted functions" during a lapse of appropriations. Of that number, roughly half are resident inspectors assigned to reactor and fuel facilities. The rest are staff necessary to respond to emergency situations at NRC-licensed facilities. For updates on the status of the NRC, please go to the agency blog. For information about the status of the federal government, go to www.opm.gov