The Federal Government Is Still Shut Down. Here's What That Means Across The Country - Beritaja

A "Closed Do Not Enter" motion astatine the entranceway to Muir Woods National Monument successful Mill Valley, Calif., connected Oct. 3. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The authorities shutdown has lasted 15 days — and counting.

Republicans and Democrats look nary person to an statement to reopen it. The Senate again tried — and grounded — Wednesday to beforehand a measure to reopen the government. It was the chamber's ninth effort since the shutdown began connected Oct. 1 to ballot connected a short-term backing measure passed by the House.

The Trump management has been pursuing done connected threats to slash the size of authorities during the shutdown, laying disconnected thousands of workers precocious past week. A hearing successful national tribunal coming considered the legality of those layoffs; the judge overseeing the lawsuit issued a impermanent restraining bid directing the Trump management to region RIF notices to national labor who are members of 2 unions, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Read the latest connected what we cognize about the simplification successful force, here.

President Trump has said he plans to occurrence much national workers en masse while the shutdown continues and will specifically target what he called "Democrat programs."

While progressive subject members were group to miss their first afloat paycheck connected Wednesday, complete the play President Trump said he "identified funds" to guarantee the progressive subject gets paid. The Defense Department will usage "approximately $8 billion" of unused investigation and improvement funding from past twelvemonth to salary work members if the authorities doesn't reopen by Oct. 15, according to a Pentagon charismatic not authorized to speak publicly. That would apt only screen 1 salary rhythm and subject families are already seeking further assistance from nutrient banks and different groups to thief pinch paying bills.

As the shutdown drags on, here's the latest connected what we know.

Jump to state-specific impacts.

Why did the national authorities unopen down?

A partisan argument complete if and erstwhile lawmakers request to enactment to widen subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces led to the existent shutdown. Some 24 cardinal people — who don't person security done their jobs aliases a nationalist programme for illustration Medicaid — usage the strategy to bargain wellness plans.

Prominent Republican lawmakers person claimed the Democrats are looking to supply taxation dollars to thief salary for the heath attraction of undocumented immigrants. That is not true.

Democrats successful the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term backing measure that passed the House but did not see an hold of the wellness attraction taxation credits. Democrats are besides hoping to repeal cuts to wellness attraction programs that were put successful spot arsenic portion of the GOP spending and taxation bill that passed complete the summer.

Read much about much connected the statement complete these subsidies here.

Plus, why Democrats are casting the authorities shutdown arsenic a wellness attraction showdown.

— Selena Simmons-Duffin, BERITAJA

What about WIC and SNAP benefits?

Among the first to consciousness the pinch during this shutdown could beryllium the 7 cardinal mothers and young children who trust connected the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrient program. Funding was estimated to tally retired aft about 2 weeks. But USDA has distributed money from the erstwhile fiscal year, helping astatine slightest immoderate states. And the White House has said it will use tariff revenue to support WIC afloat, though has provided fewer details. When asked for much information, the White House referred BERITAJA to USDA, which did not reply to a query. Trump's fund connection earlier this twelvemonth had looked to trim WIC funding.

Lucia Graves of Lebanon, N.H. told BERITAJA she is counting connected the benefits to thief provender her family, particularly arsenic the costs of groceries is connected the rise. But continued entree if there's a prolonged shutdown will apt dangle connected states filling the gap, if their budgets allow.

Beyond WIC, the country's overmuch larger nutrient assistance programme — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP, antecedently known arsenic nutrient stamps) — is funded done October. That's because the debit-like cards group usage to bargain nutrient are loaded a period successful advance, truthful benefits will proceed for October. But successful a memo seen by BERITAJA, USDA past week told authorities agencies to clasp disconnected paying for November benefits for deficiency of capable funding, "until further notice."

— Jennifer Ludden, BERITAJA

And what about schoolhouse lunches?

Some authorities agencies opportunity they whitethorn not person the costs to reimburse schools providing free and low-cost meals.

Diane Pratt-Heavner, a spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association, says immoderate agencies person told her statement they don't person the money to salary schools backmost for meals during the shutdown.

"There is simply a beardown committedness connected some sides of the aisle to make judge that kids person entree to patient meals astatine school, truthful we are hopeful that the management and Congress will enactment earlier this becomes an issue."

Before the shutdown, USDA released a contingency scheme outlining costs states could pat into to screen immoderate gaps. USDA did not instantly respond to BERITAJA's petition for comment.

— Kadin Mills, BERITAJA

A United States Postal Service (USPS) message container stands successful Manhattan connected Aug. 5, 2020 successful New York City. Mail services will not beryllium affected by the authorities shutdown. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

USPS is 'open for business arsenic usual'

"U.S. Postal Service operations will not beryllium interrupted successful the arena of a authorities shutdown," according to a statement by USPS. The postal work is chiefly self-funded and doesn't dangle connected the appropriations process to proceed moving arsenic usual.

IRS furloughs about half its staff

A contingency plan from the Treasury Department says that somewhat much than half of the IRS' about 74,000 workers stay connected the occupation and will proceed to activity for the foreseeable future. Some IRS employees were issued reduction successful force, aliases RIF, notices on Friday and posted screenshots of those notices informing them of their past day, Dec. 9.

The contingency scheme says about each of those labor who proceed to activity will beryllium paid utilizing sources different than yearly appropriations, which are connected clasp during the shutdown. Tasks will see completing and testing systems to grip adjacent year's tax-filing season, and maintaining computers to forestall the nonaccomplishment of data.

— Scott Horsley, Andrea Hsu and Stephen Fowler, BERITAJA

Teachers and schools won't beryllium straight impacted, but national acquisition functions might

Eighty-seven percent of Department of Education labor have been impermanent furloughed, arsenic elaborate successful agency shutdown contingency plans.

Layoffs peculiarly gutted the agency responsible for overseeing typical education, according to aggregate sources wrong the department. The RIF affects the dozens of unit members responsible for about $15 billion successful typical acquisition backing and for making judge states supply typical acquisition services to the nation's 7.5 cardinal children pinch disabilities.

In addition, galore Department of Education labor who were furloughed were amazed to spot a connection blaming Democrats for the authorities shutdown inserted into their out-of-office replies. A national workers national is suing the Trump management for inserting the connection into employees' out-of-office email messages.

— Shannon Bond and Cory Turner, BERITAJA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2026 went unrecorded arsenic scheduled. As WPR's Corrinne Hess reports, the U.S. Department of Education says that student financial assistance programs will continue, contempt the shutdown.

Greg Freeman, a National Park Service ranger closes the entranceway gross owed to the authorities shutdown astatine the Everglades National Park Shark Valley connected Oct. 1 successful Florida. Shark Valley remains unfastened to visitors who parkland extracurricular the entranceway gross and locomotion in, though pinch constricted staffing. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

National Parks are a mixed bag

Across the country, the National Park Service (NPS) person brought their operations to a halt.

As KQED's Sarah Wright and Carly Severn reported, a contingency scheme for the NPS says that parkland roads, lookouts and trails "will mostly stay accessible to visitors" for the long of the shutdown, but different services specified arsenic regular roadworthy and way information updates would not beryllium provided.

Concerns person besides been raised about the information and work of keeping parks unfastened without having a robust number of labor disposable to behaviour captious services.

The The National Zoo and different Smithsonian accommodation besides closed connected Sunday. "All the animals astatine the Zoo and astatine the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute successful Front Royal, Virginia, will proceed to beryllium fed and cared for," the Smithsonian said. "A shutdown will not impact our committedness to the information of our unit and modular of excellence successful animal care."

The zoo's animal cams, however, are considered nonessential and will beryllium turned disconnected for the remainder of the shutdown.

— Alana Wise, BERITAJA

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits will continue

Social Security, VA and different benefits will continue. But connected Friday, labor astatine Social Security section offices said the government shutdown has near them incapable to transportation retired an important work for immoderate recipients. As BERITAJA's Ashley Lopez reports, workers opportunity they are incapable to supply use verification letters to group calling successful to petition them. These official letters enactment arsenic a benignant of income verification and are truthful cardinal to obtaining assistance for illustration lodging assistance, substance assistance and thief from nonprofits.

As BERITAJA's Scott Horsley reports immoderate furloughed labor astatine the Labor Department are coming backmost to work, successful bid to complete the September ostentation report, which is simply a cardinal constituent utilized to cipher the costs of surviving accommodation that Social Security recipients will person adjacent year.

Read much on how a conflict complete wellness argumentation led to the authorities shutdown from BERITAJA's Selena Simmons-Duffin.

But immoderate adjacent lodging offices person been gutted arsenic portion of the shutdown RIFs

More than 300 Housing and Urban Development labor received layoff notices complete the weekend, according to a tally by AFGE National Council 222, a national that represents HUD workers. A HUD spokesperson says the layoffs are to "align programs" pinch the Trump administration's priorities. The agency did not supply specifics, but a national tally finds about a 3rd of those trim are group who analyse allegations of lodging discrimination.

HUD national steward Paul Osadebe says the layoffs look to gut immoderate full offices — successful Atlanta, Kansas City, Fort Worth and Denver. They travel connected apical of erstwhile awesome cuts to HUD's adjacent lodging staff.

— Jennifer Ludden, BERITAJA

There could beryllium missed paychecks and mislaid jobs

Perhaps the biggest impacts will beryllium felt by national workers who are group to miss their first afloat paycheck during the authorities shutdown later this month. President Trump connected Saturday said he had "identified funds" to make judge the progressive subject does not miss its Oct. 15 paycheck, but absent a breakthrough successful Congress it remains unclear really the subject would beryllium paid beyond that.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 750,000 national labor would beryllium furloughed each time of the shutdown.

Here's the latest breakdown connected impermanent furloughs during the authorities shutdown by agency.

Wildfire and different emergency consequence personnel, for example, will proceed to work, but successful galore cases without pay.

In summation to furloughing employees, thousands of labor crossed respective national agencies began receiving RIF notices past week.

Last week, Trump appeared to publically backmost a draught White House memo that includes an statement for denying workers pay, contempt a 2019 rule intended to guarantee national labor are compensated aft a shutdown. When pressed connected the legality of specified a move, Trump said, "What the rule says is correct, and I travel the law."

Ian Morgan is simply a postdoctoral chap astatine the National Institutes of Health successful Maryland and the leader of a section national worker union. He told WAMU's Jenny Abamu he wants immoderate fund woody to see protections for national workers and the services they provide. Morgan besides wants Congress to guarantee backmost salary for national contractors he useful intimately pinch — galore of whom will not person salary while the authorities is unopen down.

Read much about really national workers are finding their sound during the shutdown.

ICE will mostly proceed uninterrupted

Immigration cases and enforcement are proceeding arsenic accustomed during the authorities shutdown, pinch a fewer mini exceptions. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that the labor successful the Office of Detention Oversight, which inspects migration detention centers, is presently not working. "We dream Democrats will unfastened up the authorities swiftly truthful that this agency could resume its work," McLaughlin said.

Customs inspection and migration rule enforcement are considered "essential" functions that will proceed during immoderate lapse successful appropriations, though workers whitethorn not get paid until the shutdown is over.

The U.S. Coast Guard, which is housed wrong DHS, will proceed to beryllium paid, according to a societal media post from Secretary Kristi Noem, from costs appropriated successful the reconciliation measure earlier this year.

— Ximena Bustillo, BERITAJA

An aerial postulation power building is seen pursuing the authorities shutdown astatine the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport connected Oct. 1 successful Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

If you're flying soon …

Air postulation controllers and about Transportation Security Administration labor are considered "essential workers" and person to enactment connected the job.

Travelers crossed the U.S. are opening to consciousness the impacts of the authorities shutdown, arsenic aerial postulation power staffing shortages disrupt flights crossed the country.

Air postulation controllers helped to extremity the past authorities shutdown, and could thief extremity this 1 arsenic well. A "slight increase" successful sick time off astatine 2 facilities connected the East Coast threw immoderate awesome airports into chaos.

Read much on what a shortage of aerial postulation controllers could do to bring an extremity to the shutdown from BERITAJA's Joel Rose.

The effect of the shutdown looks different successful different parts of the country

Some states crossed the state are uniquely positioned to consciousness the effect of the authorities shutdown. Reporters from the BERITAJA Network are digging into the ways the authorities shutdown is playing retired successful their region.

Here's what we cognize truthful acold about really the shutdown is affecting circumstantial communities crossed the country:

Alaska

• The U.S. Transportation Department says it has secured backing to proceed the Essential Air Service program, subsidizing routes to 65 Alaska communities and much than an further 100 communities nationwide, done Nov. 2. [Alaska Public Media]
• About 15,000 national labor unrecorded successful Alaska, 1 of the highest percentages of national labor erstwhile compared pinch different states. President Trump's threat that national labor could person termination notices increases the uncertainty about really this important workforce to Alaska's system could beryllium affected. [Alaska Public Media]

For much connected the effect successful Alaska, caput to Alaska Public Media.

Arizona

• Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said she would not walk authorities funds to support Grand Canyon National Park unfastened should the authorities shutdown. [KJZZ] 
• Social services successful Grand Canyon Village are gearing up to support non-essential labor astatine Grand Canyon National Park, including nutrient pantry resources. [KNAU]
• Sen. Ruben Gallego said the shutdown would besides not impact national alleviation money to communities successful the Miami-Globe area aft torrential monsoon rains caused flash flooding successful the region [KJZZ]
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport joined a fistful of different airports crossed the state that person refused to show a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the authorities shutdown. [KJZZ]
  

California

• The shutdown of the national government has brought the afloat aliases partial closure of galore National Park Service sites crossed California: Muir Woods is afloat closed. Alcatraz Island is slated to enactment open. Other sites for illustration Point Reyes National Seashore and Fort Point person partial closures, pinch immoderate parking tons blocked aliases bathrooms locked. Even immoderate parkland unit said they didn't study the plan until Sept. 30 — the day earlier the authorities unopen down. Yosemite is open, but pinch tons of changes for visitors. [KQED]

Colorado

• Sites and lands successful Colorado operated by the National Park Service are open, but "some services whitethorn beryllium constricted aliases unavailable," according to the agency's website. [Colorado Public Radio]
• In Colorado, the national authorities employs thousands of workers astatine ambiance aliases land-management agencies. An EPA spokesperson told CPR News that the agency is operating under its shutdown plan, which would furlough thousands of employees. [Colorado Public Radio]
• Unemployment claims from Colorado's national workers are surging amid the U.S. authorities shutdown. Stephanie Rogers, a Colorado-based microbiologist pinch the Food and Drug Administration, told CPR she revenge for unemployment the time aft the shutdown started. [Colorado Public Radio]

Connecticut

• Connecticut will proceed federally funded nutrient assistance programs for authorities residents during the authorities shutdown, Gov. Ned Lamont said connected Wednesday. But he said the state's reserve money for SNAP, the nutrient assistance programme for low-income families, will tally retired by the extremity of the month. [WSHU]
• Connecticut has a $2.5 cardinal fund surplus this twelvemonth — its 2nd largest successful history. Advocates are asking Lamont to see utilizing it to thief offset the national shortfall. [WSHU]

Georgia

• For national workers surviving paycheck to paycheck, 1 action to get done being furloughed could beryllium filing for unemployment insurance, Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes said. The labor will person to salary the benefits backmost erstwhile the shutdown ends and they person backmost pay, but the benefits could thief them make ends meet while they are not being paid. [GPB]
• Georgia farmers could besides look delays in artifact assistance backing and commodity data they trust connected during the time-sentitive play of planting and harvesting. [BERITAJA]

Kansas

• Kansas farmers look respective uncertainties, arsenic payments from immoderate national programs are successful limbo. In addition, about half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's labor will beryllium furloughed, and galore offices will beryllium closed. [KCUR]
• During the past 2 shutdowns, the USDA did not people its monthly harvest reports. This comes astatine an inconvenient clip arsenic Midwest farmers are successful harvest season. [KCUR]

For much connected the effect successful Kansas City, head to KCUR.

Louisiana

• The National Flood Insurance Program, aliases NFIP, is managed by FEMA and provides flood security to those who don't person a backstage option. It has grown successful size arsenic about homeowner's security policies crossed the U.S. person dropped flood harm entirely. It covers about half a cardinal Louisianans. Policyholders pinch expiring contracts could suffer sum and costs to salary claims person dropped $30 cardinal owed to the shutdown. [WWNO/WRKF]

For much connected the effect successful Louisiana, head to WWNO/WRKF.

Illinois

• Three workers who said pinch the Chicago Sun-Times said they haven't been furloughed, but they've dealt pinch uncertainties and fragmented coordination since the national authorities unopen down Oct. 1 connected apical of a twelvemonth of uncertainty. [Chicago Public Media]

Maine

• Even though overmuch of the unit of Acadia National Park successful Maine has been furloughed, it was a celebrated play astatine the park. [Maine Public]

Missouri

• Families enrolled successful the Missouri WIC programme — which provides supplemental food, nutrition acquisition and support to low-income women and children — will not beryllium instantly impacted by the shutdown. [St. Louis Public Radio]
• The Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse successful downtown St. Louis are temporarily closed, pinch National Park Service activity mostly connected hold. [St. Louis Public Radio]
  

New Hampshire

• There are more than 5,000 civilian national labor successful New Hampshire, astatine the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Manchester VA Medical Center, the White Mountain National Forest, the Berlin national prison, the passport processing halfway astatine Pease and astatine different national agencies. How the shutdown mightiness impact them isn't wholly clear. [NHPR]
• The White Mountain National Forest will stay open, but immoderate opportunity earlier unit cuts are hampering captious activities. Firefighting and disaster consequence activities will besides continue, according to national officials. [NHPR]
• On Oct. 7, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., the seasoned appropriator who has helped agent past bipartisan deals, told BERITAJA, she has been moving down the scenes pinch senators from some parties to "find communal ground." [BERITAJA]

For much connected the effect successful New Hampshire, caput to NHPR.

North Carolina

• After the national authorities shutdown trim staffing and services astatine Great Smoky Mountains National Park, section governments and nonprofits successful the region stepped up to ft the measure and support the parkland open during the highest autumn season. The costs should support the parkland unfastened done Oct. 19. [WUOT]

North Dakota

• The state-owned Bank of North Dakota is partnering pinch section banks and in installments unions to provide short-term debased liking loans to national authorities employees and members of the equipped services stationed successful North Dakota, if they acquisition financial hardship because of the national authorities shutdown. [Prairie Public]

For much connected the effect successful North Dakota, caput to Prairie Public.

Oklahoma

• With the national authorities unopen down, National Park rangers are not coming astatine the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Victims, family members and first responders are stepping successful to amended visitors connected the location's story.⁠ [KOSU]

Oregon

• The national authorities programme utilized to subsidize commercialized flights successful Pendleton sewage a last-minute reprieve from grinding to a halt owed to the partial authorities shutdown. But arsenic of Wednesday, contiguous answers connected really that mightiness impact Eastern Oregon's only commercialized airport are successful short supply. The municipally operated Eastern Oregon Regional Airport successful Pendleton holds the only Essential Air Service (EAS) statement successful the state, a national programme that helps agrarian airports operate. [OPB]

Pennsylvania

• Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania-based national workers furloughed during the authorities shutdown may beryllium eligible for unemployment compensation done the authorities Department of Labor & Industry. [WITF]

Tennessee

• After the national authorities shutdown trim staffing and services astatine Great Smoky Mountains National Park, section governments and nonprofits successful the region stepped up to ft the measure and support the parkland unfastened during the highest autumn season. The costs should support the parkland unfastened done Oct. 19 [WUOT]
• On Oct. 7, the FAA notified section officials successful Nashville that flights successful and retired of Nashville International Airport (BNA) would beryllium reduced Tuesday day owed to a shortage of aerial postulation controllers during the authorities shutdown. Nashville's airdrome was backmost to normal by Wednesday morning. [WLPN]

Texas

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection labor who inspect cargo astatine the 32 different charismatic ports of entry are among the basal national workers who must stay connected the occupation unpaid. The longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the consequence of cargo backups astatine these Texas ports owed to unpaid labor calling successful sick. [Houston Public Media]
  

Utah

• In Ogden, Utah, about 10 percent useful for the IRS, and erstwhile national workers extremity getting paychecks, impacts are felt quickly and broadly. (KUER)

Washington

• On Oct. 6, authorities officials opportunity they person capable to screen WIC for the adjacent 2 weeks. Seattle and King County person collaborated to dedicate about $2 cardinal to supply one-time vouchers to an estimated 30,000 clients successful King County who trust connected WIC. [KUOW]
• The Employment Security Department says the 80,000 national workers successful Washington State whitethorn suffice for unemployment benefits. [OPB]

Wyoming

• On Oct. 3, Gov. Mark Gordon said Wyoming will screen gaps successful backing to federally funded authorities labor who are successful the authorities fund "in the short-term." [Wyoming Public Media]

For much connected the effect successful Wyoming, caput to Wyoming Public Media.

BERITAJA's Padma Rama, Emily Alfin Johnson and Heidi Glenn edited this piece.