Memorandum
To: All Department of the Interior Employees
From: Secretary
Subject: Ensuring the Continued Performance of the Mission of the Department of the Interior during the Global Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Department of the Interior (Department) employees are among the most dedicated and hard-working members of our Federal workforce. Across the Department, thousands of our heroic employees continue to perform critical missions, such as fighting fires, providing law enforcement, delivering public health services, inspecting oil platforms, and maintaining facilities at National Parks and on public lands. Thousands more are performing their duties from home, including writing and enforcing rules, receiving public input, executing leases, responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, and issuing permits.
I continue to be humbled by the strength, commitment, and resiliency demonstrated by our employees. Now more than ever, it is important that we stand tall for the American people. Thank you for continuing your hard work and service.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has required flexibility and adjustments to the Department’s operational posture, the Federal government remains open. During this national emergency, we need to:
This memorandum is intended to ensure the operation of the Department while maintaining the health and safety of its employees. It applies to each Region, Bureau, Office, and employee of the Department
Consistent with guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and State and local authorities, I have determined that Department employees not performing or supporting mission essential functions or performing mission critical functions as determined by their State or Regional Director, or equivalent management authority, should telework. Supervisors are hereby directed to instruct employees under their supervision to telework, if telework ready, or encourage telework eligible employees to enter into telework agreements. If a telework-eligible employee is unable to enter into a telework agreement, the supervisor shall grant the employee weather and safety leave for a period not to exceed fourteen calendar days from the date of this memo, which shall be re-evaluated in light of conditions at that time.
This memorandum shall be implemented by the Assistant Secretary—Policy, Management and Budget (AS-PMB) and the Heads of Bureaus and Offices, as follows:
The AS-PMB is responsible for:
Each Bureau/Office head is responsible for:
This memorandum is effective immediately. It will remain in effect until it is amended, superseded, or revoked.
David L. Bernhardt
Secretary of the Interior