United States foreign aid officials who stayed home Monday because of the federal government shutdown barely had time to begin their domestic to-do lists before the U.S. Congress reached an agreement to send them back to work.

In the meantime, the broader climate of uncertainty and political fighting that forced government agencies to close their doors for one day has also had broader consequences for U.S. aid efforts. Unpredictable budgets have hobbled long-term planning, and U.S. country offices have responded in different ways, creating inconsistency and incoherence that humanitarian and development organizations still have to cope with, their leaders say.

Even though this shutdown turned out to be short lived, multiple USAID staffers shared frustration with the agency’s communication — or lack thereof — in the days and hours leading up to it. The shutdown guidance the agency published on Friday reports that 467 out of 1,810 Washington-based “direct-hire” staff occupied “excepted” positions. All others were designated for furlough.

In addition to furloughed staff, the shutdown imposed a number of other restrictions on the agency’s spending and activities, including barring new travel arrangements, new employment offers, and any speeches without approval by USAID’s public affairs office.

Read the full article about government shutdowns by Michaela Igoe at Devex.