Washington-area federal employees eligible for unscheduled leave

Washington-area federal offices will open on Wednesday, but federal employees can take unscheduled leave to avoid the major traffic congestion expected due to state funeral plans for former President Ronald Reagan, the Office of Personnel Management announced Tuesday night.

Under unscheduled leave, federal employees are allowed to take the day off without prior approval of their supervisors.

Reagan died Saturday at the age of 93. On Wednesday evening the former president's coffin is expected to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. A motorcade will take the coffin to Washington, where it will be transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for a procession that will end at the U.S. Capitol. As a result, several major highways and streets will be closed during the evening rush hours.

According to OPM, agencies should allow eligible employees to telework, and federal workers who do choose to report to work are urged to car pool or use mass transit. Federal offices will be open on Thursday, agency officials said, however they will close on Friday, which was declared a national day of mourning for the 40th president in an executive order issued Sunday by President Bush.

Employees should monitor local media outlets or the OPM Web site for updates on the government's operating status.