Iowa Department of Human Services Will Temporarily Close in May To Save Money

Iowa's Department of Human Services announced on March 26 that it will close down "much of its operations" for two and a half days in May, the Des Moines Register reports. The closings, during which time employees will not be paid, are part of the department's effort to make $3.5 million in budget cuts by June 30, the end of the fiscal year. DHS Director Jessie Rasmussen said that the closings and temporary layoffs are "frustrating," adding that applications for welfare, food stamps and Medicaid will be delayed. Rasmussen said, "This is the least disruptive of several poor options. If we were required to meet the latest budget targets with layoffs alone in such a short time, we'd lose about 400 employees." The Register reports that the department's nine "institutions" will remain open but will use temporary and permanent layoffs to "meet their own budgets" (Santiago, Des Moines Register, 3/27).