WASHINGTON – D.C. Mayor Vince Gray told the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) he plans to keep the District’s employees – about 32,000 of them – on the job in the event of a government shutdown.

District attorneys approved the use of a $140 million special reserve fund, the Washington Post reports. City officials say they’re confident the fund would keep the District operating through an Oct. 15 payroll date.

It’s unclear how OMB will respond to Gray’s declaration, as the city is not supposed to spend money if the federal government shuts down. The Congress appropriates the District’s budget because the city is seen as a federal agency of sorts.

WTOP’s Veronica Robinson contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.