This Is What Closes When the Government Stops
You’ve probably already heard that the Senate was unable to agree on an interim funding measure that would allow the government to remain open until the Friday midnight deadline, which means we are officially on a government shutdown.
Another vote is scheduled for 1 am Monday, so the blackout could end soon. However, if the vote is also unsuccessful, there is a good chance that the consequences of the shutdown will begin to affect you personally.
So what really happens when the government stops working? Here’s a rundown of what actually turns off, as well as what will still work:
Civil servants
A significant number of civil servants working everywhere from parks to the EPA will be laid off during the closure. During a stop in 2013, this amounted to about 800,000 people.
White House staff
The White House will lay off 1,056 members of the President’s Executive Office, and 659 “core” employees will continue to work, according to CNN . All staff are expected to show up for work on Monday, but if no agreement is reached, laid-off employees will remain for a maximum of four hours so they can customize their out-of-office messages or explain how to fulfill their job responsibilities. to an employee without a vacation.
CNN also notes that Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation team will continue to work during the shutdown.
National parks
Most national parks, zoos and museums will be closed during the stop. Government closings also typically include the Smithsonian; however, the museum tweeted this weekend that it still has funds from last year that it will use to stay open for as long as possible. At the moment, it has been confirmed that it will only operate on weekends and Mondays.
The popular Smithsonian panda cameras at the National Zoo are currently off due to closures. Yes, the government took the pandas.
Weapon permits and passports
The shutdown affects the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Bureau will not issue any new weapons permits during the stop. The disconnection also affects the passport office. If you are waiting for one of these, do not expect it to be processed before the shutdown completes.
District of Columbia City Services and the National Mall
Typically, a government shutdown will affect city services in Washington DC as well as the National Mall, which is technically a national park. This time, the city plans to help and support the federal government for as long as possible, using city rather than federal funds.
USPS, Social Security, Medicare, Food Stamps
The USPS will continue to operate normally during shutdown. Social Security and Medical Checks will continue to be distributed and food stamps will continue to be issued.
Military
The military is considered essential, so the military will still report for duty during the stop. Currently, military personnel receive their salaries until February 1; however, if their shutdown lasts longer than this moment, there is a high probability that the military will work for free.
Other closures
Bloomberg notes that new enrollments for experimental treatments through the National Institutes of Health, maintenance of U.S. government websites, and mortgage approvals may also be delayed during government closings.