Shutdown Impacts

The US Congress has until September 30, 2023 (this Saturday) to fund the Federal Government otherwise the Government will Shutdown.

It is now unlikely that a Funding Bill will pass due to the In-Fighting between the Republicans (7 Republican Congressmen/women vowing to shut the Government down for no reason) and then the funding differences between the Republicans and the Democrats.

During a US Federal Government Shutdown:

Members of Congress will continue to be paid.

President Biden will continue to be paid.

Congressional and Presidential Staff would not be paid – some will be furloughed while others would be forced to work without pay.

The 2 Million Active-Duty Soldiers, Sailors and Marines would continue to protect us across the United States and around the World, but would not be paid.

400,000 of the Civilian Defense Employees would be furloughed and not paid with the other 400,000 forced to work without pay.

Federal Agents of the FBI, CIA, DEA, Federal Prisons, etc. would continue to work, but not be paid.

US Border Patrol would continue to work apprehending and processing over 2,000 Illegal Immigrants every day, but would not be paid.

Federal Courts would stay open until October 13, 2023.

US Embassies and Consulates would continue to work, but at reduced operations.

US Passports would continue to be issued as would Visas to the US since they fund themselves.

The Smithsonian, National Zoo and other Federal Museums and Properties would close and their Employees furloughed without pay.

17,000 of the 18,300 Employees of NASA would be furloughed without pay and the other 1,3000 would be forced to work without pay.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would operate as normal, and all 83,000 Employees would be paid.

The Small Business Administration would not be able to issue any new loans.

The National Institutes of Health would furlough most of its staff and delay new clinical trials for medical treatments.

Most inspections of hazardous waste sites and drinking water and chemical facilities would stop.

Food-Safety Inspections by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be delayed.

Healthcare Services for Military Veterans and Native Americans would continue, but with many delays.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would furlough roughly 90% of its 4,600 Employees with the remaining working without pay.

The TSA and Air Traffic Controllers would continue to work, but without pay.

Medicare and Social Security Payments would continue, but could be delayed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would risk running out of funds for Disaster Relief and Long-Term Recovery Projects.

It is unclear whether National Parks would remain open. If they are open then Employees of the National Parks Service wouldn’t be paid.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would continue to operate locks, dams and flood control facilities, but not be paid.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) would be unaffected as it does not depend on Congress for funding.

US States and Territories would not receive any new Federal Money – which would affect Millions of State and Territory Employees as well as Million of Residents receiving certain Benefits funded by both the State/Territory and the Federal Government.

Even those Federal Employees deemed “Essential” would be forced to work without pay many would either call-out sick or do a Work Slowdown as happened in other Shutdowns (especially with the TSA.)

Even though all Federal Government Employees (including those in the Military) would eventually be paid once a Shutdown ends that doesn’t mean much when you are living Paycheck-to-Paycheck and can’t pay your Rent, your Bills, buy Medicines or buy Groceries.

It is estimated that the United States would lose $1 Billion US Dollars every day of a Government Shutdown.