Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind Workers Furloughed Again Due to Federal Funding Lapse

Employees face uncertainty as federal funding issues impact operations across the state.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Employees at the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind have been furloughed again due to a lapse in federal funding, leaving dozens of workers out of work for nearly three weeks. This is the second time in the past few months that the division has had to furlough staff, with 62 employees previously being furloughed for 10 days in November 2025 before being able to return when temporary federal funding was passed. However, when that funding expired on January 30, 2026, the same employees were placed on furlough again.

Why it matters

The Division of Services for the Blind is a critical state agency that provides services and support to Arkansans who are blind or visually impaired. The repeated furloughs due to federal funding lapses have created significant uncertainty and disruption for both employees and the clients they serve, highlighting the challenges that can arise when state programs rely heavily on uncertain federal funding streams.

The details

The Division of Services for the Blind operates under the Arkansas Department of Commerce as part of Arkansas Workforce Connections. Federal dollars fund the division's positions, and when a continuing resolution providing temporary federal funding expired on January 30, 2026, the previously furloughed employees were placed on furlough again. This has prevented the division from processing payments to small businesses that operate food services in state and federal buildings.

  • In November 2025, 62 employees were furloughed for 10 days.
  • In January 2026, the same employees were furloughed again when federal funding lapsed on January 30.

The players

Gustavo Manzanales

An employee with the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind who has been furloughed twice due to the federal funding lapse.

Arkansas Department of Commerce

The state agency that oversees the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind as part of Arkansas Workforce Connections.

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What’s next

The Arkansas Department of Commerce is working to secure additional federal funding to bring the furloughed employees back to work as soon as possible.

The takeaway

The repeated furloughs of employees at the Arkansas Division of Services for the Blind due to federal funding lapses highlight the challenges that can arise when state programs rely heavily on uncertain federal funding streams. This disruption to critical services for the blind and visually impaired community in Arkansas underscores the need for more stable and reliable funding sources to ensure the continuity of these important programs.