The federal government expanded the list of workers who should continue going to work even as more states issue orders requiring residents to largely stay at home.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs issued the first list on essential critical infrastructure workers on March 19 before issuing an updated list on March 28.
The agency said the list was updated “based on feedback received since the guide was published.”
Krebs stressed that the list is advisory and that state and local government officials are free to adapt the list using their own judgment.
“This advisory guidance and accompanying list are intended to support state, local, tribal, territorial, and industry partners in identifying the critical infrastructure sectors and the essential workers needed to maintain the services and functions Americans depend on daily and that need to be able to operate resiliently during the COVID-19 pandemic response,” he wrote.
![Health care professionals screen people at a testing site organized by the Maryland National Guard in a parking lot at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on March 30, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2F31%2Fworkers-in-md-1200x850.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Workers performing information technology were added alongside those performing cybersecurity functions “at healthcare and public health facilities, who cannot practically work remotely.”
Government, private, and nongovernmental organization workers that are essential for food assistance programs such as school lunch programs were added to the list, along with workers involved in the transportation of animal agricultural industries, including live animals, deceased animals, and animal vaccines.
![Trucks line up for fuel at the TA America truck stop in London, Ohio, on March 19, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2F31%2Ftruckers.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The listing of information technology workers for the energy sector was expanded substantially, and additions in the sector included workers and security staff involved in nuclear refueling operations as well as people supporting the energy sector through renewable energy infrastructure, including workers supporting construction, manufacturing, and permitting.
Transportation sector additions included workers supporting the distribution of food, pharmaceuticals, and fuel. Employees supporting personal and commercial transportation services such as taxis, delivery services, and bicycle maintenance services were also placed on the list.
Another addition was government and private sector employees, including government contractors supporting Department of Defense internet and communications facilities. “Network Operations staff, engineers and/or technicians to include IT managers and staff, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators that manage the network or operate facilities” were also placed on the list.