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What Is and Isn’t Affected by the Government Shutdown What Is and Isn’t Affected by the Government Shutdown
(about 17 hours later)
The partial government shutdown is nearing the two-week mark, but many core functions remain unaffected. Mail is being delivered, the military is still funded, law enforcement personnel continue to work and entitlement programs are still running. The shutdown is nearly two weeks old, but some core government functions remain up and running. Mail is still being delivered and the military, law enforcement and entitlement programs are largely unaffected.
Still, many operations have ceased and about 800,000 government employees are affected, with just under half sent home on unpaid leave and just over half working without pay. Still, many operations have ceased and about 800,000 government employees are feeling the effects, with just under half sent home on unpaid leave and just over half working without pay. Those who have worked can expect to be compensated when the government reopens, but those who have been furloughed have no such guarantee.
If past shutdowns are any indication, those employees can expect to receive back pay, but federal contractors have complained that they have no such expectation. [Follow our live updates on the new Congress.]
Here’s a brief look at some of the government functions that the shutdown has affected, and those it hasn’t.Here’s a brief look at some of the government functions that the shutdown has affected, and those it hasn’t.
Most national parks are closed to visitors, and while some have remained open despite bare-bones staffing, the National Park Service has warned that “access may change without notice.” Many national parks are closed to visitors, and while some have remained open despite bare-bones staffing, or because states have stepped in to provide services, the National Park Service has warned that “access may change without notice.”
Take Joshua Tree National Park, about 130 miles from Los Angeles. It closed Wednesday at noon, in part because the park service could not keep up with the mess left by visitors. Take Joshua Tree National Park, about 130 miles from Los Angeles. It closed on Wednesday, in part because the park service could not keep up with the mess left by visitors.
“The park is being forced to take this action for health and safety concerns as vault toilets reach capacity,” the park service said on Monday. “In addition to human waste in public areas, driving off road and other infractions that damage the resource are becoming a problem.” [Read more on how parks and museums are affected by the shutdown.]
“The park is being forced to take this action for health and safety concerns as vault toilets reach capacity,” the park service said. “In addition to human waste in public areas, driving off road and other infractions that damage the resource are becoming a problem.”
Museums have been affected, too.Museums have been affected, too.
On Wednesday, the Smithsonian announced that all 19 of its museums and the National Zoo were closed because of the shutdown. (“Essential personnel” are on hand to care for the animals at the zoo.) The National Gallery of Art, all 19 Smithsonian museums, and the National Zoo were closed because of the shutdown. (“Essential personnel” remain on hand at the zoo to care for the animals.)
The National Gallery of Art was open on Wednesday but said its status on Thursday was “yet to be determined.” Under the shutdown, most Internal Revenue Service operations have stopped. According to a contingency plan covering the final weeks of December, about seven in eight of the agency’s nearly 80,000 employees have been sent home.
Under the shutdown, most Internal Revenue Service operations have stopped. According to a contingency plan covering the final weeks of December, only about one in eight of the agency’s nearly 80,000 employees were slated to work. That plan does not make clear, though, what the I.R.S. will do as the shutdown extends into January. (Tax filing season has not yet begun, but the agency will no doubt face plenty of questions from filers over the recent tax law changes.)
That plan does not make clear, though, what the I.R.S. will do as the shutdown extends into January. (Tax filing season has not yet begun, but the agency will no doubt face plenty of questions from filers as the 2017 tax law goes into effect this year for the first time.) The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. [President Trump and Democrats could not break an impasse over his request of funding for a border wall.]
The agency, which did not respond to a request for comment, may bring in more workers to prepare for tax season, but it generally does not answer taxpayer questions or pay tax refunds during a shutdown, according to The Wall Street Journal. If the shutdown ends within a few weeks, it is unlikely to seriously affect most taxpayers.
Fear not, seniors of America: The Social Security checks are still coming. (And the Postal Service will still deliver them.)Fear not, seniors of America: The Social Security checks are still coming. (And the Postal Service will still deliver them.)
That’s because the Social Security Administration already received funding for the 2019 fiscal year, in September, according to Mark Hinkle, an agency spokesman.That’s because the Social Security Administration already received funding for the 2019 fiscal year, in September, according to Mark Hinkle, an agency spokesman.
“Social Security services and offices will remain fully operational, and Social Security benefits will be paid on time,” he said in an emailed statement.“Social Security services and offices will remain fully operational, and Social Security benefits will be paid on time,” he said in an emailed statement.
It is not the only entitlement program spared from the shutdown. Medicare and Medicaid are also unaffected. [Read more on how power dynamics may shift in the newly divided Congress.]
Social Security is not the only entitlement program spared from the shutdown. Medicare and Medicaid are also unaffected.
The office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, does not rely on congressional action for funding, so its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election has continued unimpeded.The office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, does not rely on congressional action for funding, so its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election has continued unimpeded.
While air traffic control operations continue to run, other functions of the Federal Aviation Administration are restricted.While air traffic control operations continue to run, other functions of the Federal Aviation Administration are restricted.
In Michigan, Sheriff Bill Federspiel of Saginaw County has complained that the shutdown is costing his department, which has had to guard the site of a fatal plane crash as it waits on the F.A.A. to send an investigator.In Michigan, Sheriff Bill Federspiel of Saginaw County has complained that the shutdown is costing his department, which has had to guard the site of a fatal plane crash as it waits on the F.A.A. to send an investigator.
“It may end up being where we have that plane taken from the scene and stored at a hangar,” Sheriff Federspiel told WJRT, a local ABC affiliate. “That’s my option for them if they say they can’t come right away — we’re not going to guard a plane in a park forever.”“It may end up being where we have that plane taken from the scene and stored at a hangar,” Sheriff Federspiel told WJRT, a local ABC affiliate. “That’s my option for them if they say they can’t come right away — we’re not going to guard a plane in a park forever.”
Greg Martin, an F.A.A. spokesman, confirmed that the agency did not have an inspector to send to the site of the Michigan crash, in which one person died, adding that it has had to prioritize how it uses its limited resources. Greg Martin, an F.A.A. spokesman, confirmed that the agency did not have an inspector available to send to the site of the crash, in which one person died, adding that it has had to prioritize how it uses its limited resources.
“If there was a major commercial incident or accident, then we would have inspectors available immediately,” he said.“If there was a major commercial incident or accident, then we would have inspectors available immediately,” he said.
Border Patrol and Transportation Security Administration agents will continue to work without pay, as well.Border Patrol and Transportation Security Administration agents will continue to work without pay, as well.
As the shutdown began to take hold before Christmas, Robert L. Wilkie, the secretary of veterans affairs, said in a statement that his department would be unaffected because it was fully funded through the 2019 fiscal year.As the shutdown began to take hold before Christmas, Robert L. Wilkie, the secretary of veterans affairs, said in a statement that his department would be unaffected because it was fully funded through the 2019 fiscal year.
“We thank the president and Congress for their commitment to our nation’s heroes in funding V.A., and stand ready to provide all of the V.A. benefits and services our Veterans have earned,” he said.“We thank the president and Congress for their commitment to our nation’s heroes in funding V.A., and stand ready to provide all of the V.A. benefits and services our Veterans have earned,” he said.
The 40 million or so people who receive food stamps will still get the benefit for January, according to the Agriculture Department, which administers the program. Other aid programs focused on child nutrition, including school lunch and breakfast programs, will also continue operating into February, the department said.The 40 million or so people who receive food stamps will still get the benefit for January, according to the Agriculture Department, which administers the program. Other aid programs focused on child nutrition, including school lunch and breakfast programs, will also continue operating into February, the department said.
Food assistance programs for women, children and infants and for people on Native American reservations can continue to operate at the state and local levels, depending on what funding remains, but federal funds will not support those programs until the shutdown ends, the department added. Food assistance programs for women, children and infants and for people on Native American reservations can continue to operate at the state and local levels, depending on what funding remains, but federal funds will not support those programs until the shutdown ends, the department said.
[Here’s how the shutdown leaves food, medicine and pay in doubt for Native Americans.][Here’s how the shutdown leaves food, medicine and pay in doubt for Native Americans.]
The department will continue to inspect meat, poultry, eggs, grain and other commodities, it said. Inspections of meat, poultry, eggs, grain and other commodities will continue, too, it said.
The Violence Against Women Act expired last month when the government shut down. First passed in 1994, the act helps survivors of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault with programs administered through the Justice Department and the Health and Human Services Department.The Violence Against Women Act expired last month when the government shut down. First passed in 1994, the act helps survivors of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault with programs administered through the Justice Department and the Health and Human Services Department.
Those programs will continue despite the shutdown, provided that they already have funding through grants. The shutdown will, however, delay payment requests from programs funded by the law, The Washington Post reported. Those programs will continue despite the shutdown, provided that they already have the funding through grants. The shutdown will, however, delay payment requests from programs funded by the law, The Washington Post reported.
But funding sources can vary. “Local programs have other sources of funds,” said Monica McLaughlin, the director of public policy at the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “But when they are in a situation where they’ve done the work that is federally funded and they aren’t able to reimburse for it, it certainly puts them in a financial bind and can be detrimental to the programs for sure.”
“Local programs have other sources of funds, but when they are in a situation where they’ve done the work that is federally funded and they aren’t able to reimburse for it, it certainly puts them in a financial bind and can be detrimental to the programs for sure,” said Monica McLaughlin, the director of public policy at the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Those who are doing lifesaving work will continue to help survivors, she said, but may not be reimbursed depending on how long the shutdown lasts.
Those on the front lines who are doing lifesaving work will continue to help survivors, she added, but may not be reimbursed depending on how long the shutdown continues.
“It’s hard to know what the actual impact will be,” Ms. McLaughlin said. “But I know it’s anxiety-producing at the least.”“It’s hard to know what the actual impact will be,” Ms. McLaughlin said. “But I know it’s anxiety-producing at the least.”