The US government looks like it is headed toward a partial government shutdown on Dec. 21, if Congress does not pass an appropriations bill.
About a quarter of the government will be affected, meaning closures and postponements of certain services.
During this time, several government agencies furlough workers and shutter their doors until routine operations are up and running again. Many federal employees will still be working, but while there is a lapse in funding, federal workers can’t be paid for days worked. Luckily, during past government shutdowns, employees have been repaid retroactively even if they were ordered to stay home.
Find out what you can expect to be open during the shutdown, and what will likely be closed.
OPEN
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
Anything that is classified as “mandatory spending,” including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, will continue to operate, but in a somewhat limited capacity.
Patricia Raymond, Regional Communications Director, says that checks are sent out and people are paid benefits on time. However, new applicants may not have their applications processed until funding resumes. During a government shutdown in 1996, more than 10,000 Medicare applicants were turned away every day of the shutdown.
“The budget discussions related to the fiscal year (FY) 2019 continuing resolutions or potential partial Federal Government shutdowns will not affect Social Security because we received our full FY 2019 appropriation on September 28, 2018,” Raymond said.
Law enforcement
Police officers continue their patrols and corrections officers report for work during a government shutdown. Although public safety programs continue to be funded, certain cases might be suspended or delayed, and the hiring of additional law enforcement will likely be postponed. The FBI, Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, TSA, and Homeland Security will all continue functioning.
The US Postal Service
Post offices remain operational and mail delivery continues in the event of a government shutdown. Communications Programs Specialist for USPS Meiko S. Patton says the postal service is not funded by the federal government and is not affected by a shutdown.
“Because we are an independent entity that is funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown,” Patton said.
Department of Veterans Affairs
This department, which oversees veteran hospitals and benefits programs, will continue routine operations. Veteran disability payments and GI Bill benefits will stay consistent.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps)
For those who want to make sure they will be able to get food stamps and subsidized lunches, those programs will still be in place. According to its official website, SNAP is covered under minibus appropriations legislation that was signed earlier this year by President Donald Trump.
Forest Service firefighters
Fire suppression operations, including Forest Service firefighters and the necessary equipment to protect life and property, are excluded from closedown procedures.
US Army Corps of Engineers
As with several other government entities, the USACE will be operating, but at a somewhat limited capacity. The good news for Sacramento residents is that the operations of gates and other water control features at flood control projects, like the Yolo Basin, will continue with minimal staffing. Emergency response work, maintenance of hydropower plants, and certain military activities will also continue through the shutdown.
CLOSED
National Parks
Expect national parks and monuments to be closed, though some were already closed for the winter. Some parks may be open, but with minimal staffing and closures on trails and roads.
Passport services
Services will be suspended, as passport offices are often located in government buildings, the bulk of which will close their doors for the partial shutdown. During a government shutdown in 1995, 20,000 applications for visas went unprocessed each day, and airlines and the tourist industry lost millions.
Federal Housing Administration
In the event of a shutdown, the FHA will not be able to guarantee housing loans. This could have an impact on the housing market.
NASA
Numerous workers for NASA will be furloughed and some operations will be delayed. NASA will continue their support to the crew of the International Space Station and will closely monitor the impact of an extended shutdown to determine the need of cargo supplies and other threats to life and property on ISS.
Internal Revenue Service
A majority of workers at the IRS will likely be furloughed during the shutdown, slowing analysis and collection of hundreds of thousands of tax returns and audits. Luckily, tax season is not quite underway, so the shutdown should only delay certain processes.
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