USDA Teammates,

This Thursday, Nov. 11, we recognize and celebrate Veterans Day as a day to thank, recognize and honor all those who served honorably to defend our nation and freedom. On this day of remembrance, we are grateful to all the veterans who serve and have served the United States as members of the armed forces for their sacrifice, courage and bravery. This is an important time for reflection and gratitude to our nation’s active and veteran soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guards, marines and guardians, as well as their family members who have also sacrificed so much.

To all of our military veteran colleagues—your service and your patriotism have allowed us, the benefactors of your sacrifice, to enjoy the fruits of a free nation. We are proud to have you on our team. We salute you and we thank you.

To acknowledge this important observance of our nation's heroes, I am pleased to announce that Secretary Vilsack has authorized a two-hour early release for employees tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 10.

• Employees should code their timesheet using “66 – Admin/Excused Absence” (WebTA) or “TC-66 Other Leave” (Paycheck8).
• Employees who are required to work on Wednesday, Nov. 10, due to mission critical needs will code their timesheet as normal, “01 – Regular Base Pay.” 
• If employees are unable to participate in the early departure on Wednesday, Nov. 10, because their supervisor has directed them to continue working due to mission critical needs, or if Wednesday is a non-workday, or if the employee is on preapproved paid leave on Wednesday, then the employee may use the two hours on a different day. Employees must work directly with their supervisor to identify another day within the current pay period, or within the next two pay periods (Nov. 21 to Dec. 18) to use the two-hour time off authorization. The 2 hours does not need to be used on the same day, but it must be used by Dec. 18th. Leave may only be charged during an employee’s scheduled tour of duty. Employees in a continuous period of non-pay status may not be placed in a pay status solely to receive 2 hours of administrative leave for an early release.

USDA leadership is tremendously grateful for our military service members this Veterans Day. I hope you take the time to reflect and appreciate those who died in our country to protect the freedoms that we enjoy.

Finally, I also want to thank the tens of thousands of USDA employees who heeded President Biden’s call to duty for Federal Executive Branch employees to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 22, 2021. Each of you are leading by example and helping to ensure the safety of yourself, your family, your community and the USDA workplace. This is a critical step toward putting this terrible pandemic in our taillights.

Sincerely,
Oscar Gonzales
Assistant Secretary for Administration