The government is on its third shutdown this year after members of Congress and President Donald Trump failed to come to an agreement on a deal before midnight on Friday. Here is what that means:
Many government services will still continue per usual, according to CNN.
- The Postal Service does not receive federal funds for its operations and will not be affected by a government shutdown. They will, however close at noon on Christmas Eve as planned.
- The Transportation Security Administration agents will continue working, although they will not receive an immediate paycheck. Air travel will not be impacted by a government shutdown.
- Customs agents, Border Patrol agents, and U.S. troops on deployment will work as usual. While they are required to work, they will not receive an immediate paycheck during the shutdown.
- Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security will proceed as normal.
- Many government services will continue running but the services and staff will be reduced.
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will have some staff on duty to support the astronauts on the International Space Station, but NASA facilities will stop research projects and close the grounds to visitors.
- The Agriculture Department’s Food Saftey Inspection Services and the Consumer Product Safety Commission will each keep a very minimal staff on hand to inspect food and products and consider recalls of dangerous products and consumables.
- Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office will be open and the investigation will go uninterrupted.
RELATED: Congress searches for deal to end partial government shutdown
What actually shuts down in a government shutdown?
These are the services that will be impacted by the governemnt shutdown according to a news release from the Senate Appropriations Committee:
- The National Park Service tends to close visitor centers and facilities and reduce staff by 80 percent. Many parks may close, while some will remain open with minimal staff. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park will remain open during the shutdown, although there will be no visitor services availiable.
During the federal government shutdown, we will not monitor or update social media. Some @CVNPNPS areas are accessible; however access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. For more information, see https://t.co/TkPQp7QFEC.
— Cuyahoga Valley NP (@CVNPNPS) December 22, 2018
The James A. Garfield National Historic Site is closed during the shutdown.
During the federal government shutdown, we will not monitor or update social media. James A. Garfield National Historic Site is closed for resource protection and safety.
For more information, please visit https://t.co/1JVi4PPklF. pic.twitter.com/NzfhFgL5ya
— J. A. Garfield NHS (@GarfieldNPS) December 22, 2018
- The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development will issue an unpaid leave to nearly all of its employees. Processes in loans and approvals could be delayed.
- The Internal Revenue Service employees will be sent on unpaid leave.
- Routine inspections by the Food and Drug Administration will pause while only extremely important operations will continue during the shutdown.
In all, about 420,000 federal workers will be expected to work without pay during the shutdown while 380,000 will be forced to take a temporary unpaid leave, according to the Senate Appropriation's report.
Employees in the past have been given back pay once the government shutdown ends.
Other than the government positions not receiving pay or forced on unpaid leave, the rest of Northeast Ohio and the United States should run relatively normal throughout the holiday season and throughout the government shutdown.
