After Congress late Tuesday failed to reach an agreement to prevent a federal government shutdown, funding for federal agencies ended at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
What that means is that while government offices continue to stay open for their most important operations, so-called nonessential work is suspended, paychecks are not issued and many workers are furloughed until Congress approves a new funding plan. President Donald Trump has amped up the threats this time around, saying he plans to fire employees, rather than just furlough them, a move he says will hurt Democrats.
It remains unclear how long the shutdown will last. After months of Republicans slashing and burning hundreds of billions of dollars from federal programs, as well as altering congressional norms, Democrats chose to fight to try to force Republicans to restore significant spending on health care. Republicans wouldn’t agree and now the Washington, D.C., soap opera is set to have a direct impact on the nation’s citizens and those of us in Illinois.
Here’s a breakdown.
Impact in Illinois
It’s expected that more than 153,000 federal workers in Illinois and their families “will feel the immediate impact” of the federal shutdown — and 45,000 federal employees in Illinois could be furloughed, according to statements from Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. Pritzker also said that benefit programs and Illinois’ economy would be disrupted by a shutdown.
“The president of the United States decided to shut down the government because he’s unwilling to sit down with Democrats to discuss things, and he thinks that the right thing to do is simply to fold his arms and let people go without being able to get furloughed, and let all the services that people rely on to shut down,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference Wednesday. “I think that’s wrong.”
The shutdown comes as Trump has deployed federal agents in Illinois amid a “blitz” against illegal immigration and also threats he’ll send military troops into the city. On Sunday, U.S. Border Patrol agents marched down Michigan Avenue and around downtown Chicago in what many described as a performative attempt at intimidation.
Pritzker said Trump’s plan to bring military troops into the city won’t be hurt by the federal government shutdown.
“He can do that because there are emergency personnel and military personnel that he can keep on the job,” Pritzker said. “The militarization will go on while innocent and vulnerable people suffer.”
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin — who months ago sided with Republicans to keep the government operating but on Tuesday voted against the Republican funding bill — said, “President Trump and congressional Republicans made clear they would rather shut down the government than address their looming, self-inflicted health care crisis.”
He further said that a nearly $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, which the GOP previously pushed through, will “rip away” health insurance from approximately 10 million Americans.
“Republicans are fine with ballooning the national debt to make room for tax cuts for the rich but draw the line at extending health care to millions of middle-income families,” he said. “Democrats remain ready, as we have been for months, to come to the table to broker a sensible deal that addresses the Republican health care crisis and ensures the essential functions of government remain running on behalf of the American people, but Republicans have been unwilling to negotiate.”
During a speech on the Senate floor just hours before the government was shut down, Durbin highlighted that it was not his first experience with such a shutdown, noting that his most recent and longest one occurred during Trump’s first term. Durbin also mentioned the people across the country who will be affected by the shutdown and hammered Trump for waiting so long to meet with Democrats to discuss a funding plan.
“Despite knowing since March that government funding was going to run out tonight, President Donald Trump waited until yesterday, yesterday to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,” Durbin said. “What was he waiting for?”
“Think about it,” Durbin said. “He waited until a day before the government funding deadline to finally sit down and talk to both political parties.”
What operations will be open?
Federal employees involved in national defense, law enforcement and the protection of property and life will continue working, according to a statement by the Office of Personnel Management. How quickly many get paid remains a little cloudy. Employees not paid from appropriated funds, and those “excepted” to administer shutdown operations, will continue to work and “will almost certainly be paid,” though “this requires specific Congressional approval.”
All airports, including O’Hare International and Midway, air traffic controllers and agents will continue to work.
Those who are not required to work are considered “furloughed” and will be placed in a “non-pay, non-duty status, until the shutdown ends,” according to the OPM statement.
Social Security payments will still go out.
In-person service requests, however, may not be addressed during the shutdown. According to the official Social Security website, the office will not be able to provide proof of benefits letters, or update or correct earnings records. “These in-person services will resume when the federal government is operating normally,” the site says.
Federal courts will remain open for the time being.
The U.S. Courts released a statement on Wednesday saying the judiciary branch will remain open despite the shutdown. It planned to shut down Oct. 3, but will use court fee balances and funds not reliant on new appropriations to continue paid operations through Friday, Oct. 17.
“If the shutdown continues after Judiciary funds are exhausted, the court will then operate under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which allows work to continue during a lapse of appropriations if it is necessary to support the exercise of Article III judicial powers,” the statement said. “Under this scenario, each court and federal defender’s office would determine the staffing resources necessary to support such work.”
Will the shutdown affect air travel?
As noted, airports will remain open, and the TSA will continue to operate as usual. But travelers should expect long wait times at checkpoints. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is considered essential and will continue operations.
Will my mail still come?
Yes, the U.S. Postal Service will continue to deliver mail during a government shutdown and the post office will continue operating, according to a statement from USPS on Sept. 25.
How will this affect veterans?
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, benefits will still be processed and delivered, including compensation, housing and education benefits. Regional offices will be closed during the shutdown and the department will cease providing transition program assistance and career counseling.
How will federal employees be affected?
According to the OPM statement: “Federal employees may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The UCFE program is administered by state unemployment insurance (UI) agencies acting as agents of the Federal government. The program is operated under the same terms and conditions that apply to regular state UI. In general, the law of the state in which an individual’s official duty station in Federal civilian service is located will be the state law under which an individual’s eligibility for benefits is determined.”
