10-01-2013, 12:12 PM
If Congress fails to fund the federal government by Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year, the government will go into partial shutdown. Some government functions – those deemed essential – will continue as usual, while others will be suspended. If a shutdown proceeds the way it would have in 2011 (had the last funding impasse had not been resolved in time), 800,000 of 2.1 million federal employees would be furloughed.
Here is a list of what to expect if a shutdown takes place:
1. What happens to national defense?
As with all government agencies, essential services will continue to be performed, as determined by the heads of the agencies.
“Military personnel would continue in a normal duty status,” a Department of Defense memo stated Sept. 23, adding that a “large number” number of the Department of Defense’s civilian employees would still be temporarily furloughed.
Two types of Defense employees escape furlough: One, if they are “performing emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property”; and two, those whose jobs are not funded by Congress via annual appropriations. All others face a furlough, which bars them from working, including as a volunteer.
2. Will Social Security and Medicare payments still be mailed?
Possible Government Shutdown: What Does It Mean fo …Play video."
Possible Government Shutdown: What Does It Mean for …
Yes, but…. Social Security and Medicare are entitlements, and as such, the spending is mandatory. So checks will still go out. But there could be delays if a lack of funds for worker salaries means a reduced workforce at their respective agencies. Also, new applications are likely not to be processed until the government reopens. In the 1996 shutdown, more than 10,000 Medicare applicants were turned away daily, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB).
During the shutdowns of 1995 and 1996, some Social Security employees were allowed to work, which kept benefits flowing to existing Social Security, disability, and black lung beneficiaries, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). But over time, more workers were brought back to process new claims and respond to other requests (such as from people who needed a Social Security card to work).
3. Will mail still be delivered?
Yes. The US Postal Service is self-funded – i.e., not funded by appropriations from the Treasury – and so mail service will continue as usual.
4. What about my vacation to Yellowstone National Park?
Sorry, all the national parks will close during a shutdown. So will all the attractions that are part of the federally funded Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoo. That would have meant no peek at the new baby panda, but she’s not scheduled for her public debut for about two more months (and one hopes that any shutdown would have ended long before).
During the last government shutdown, two periods that totaled 26 days in late 1995 and early 1996, the closure of 368 National Park Service sites meant a loss of 7 million visitors, and a loss of tourism dollars to local communities, the CRS reports. Closure of national museums and monuments meant a loss of 2 million visitors.
Keeping Your 401K Safe as Government Shutdown Loom …Play video."
Keeping Your 401K Safe as Government Shutdown Looms …
5. What will happen to the National Zoo’s baby panda?
All the zoo’s animals will still be fed and cared for, just not open to the public. The month-old baby panda is still nursing, but her mother, Mei Xiang, will of course be fed. The fate of Giant Panda Cam – the live video stream that allows obsessive panda-watchers to track mama and baby (while pretending to work) – is still up in the air. Volunteers run the video camera.
As The Washington Post points out, panda addicts will have to make do with the viral video of a baby panda sneezing.
6. Will government workers still get paid?
Back to the serious business of a shutdown. Federal workers placed on furlough will not get paid during a shutdown. After past shutdowns, Congress has voted to pay furloughed workers retroactively, but this time employee advocates aren’t so sure, given public (and some legislators’) attitudes toward the federal government.
“It’s a very different time and a very different Congress,” Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, told The Washington Post.
Essential workers who stay on the job during a shutdown would still get paid, though if the shutdown drags on long enough, their pay could be delayed.
Biden: Gov't Shutdown Would Not Affect Colo.Play video."
Biden: Gov't Shutdown Would Not Affect Colo.
7. What about renewing my passport?
Passport service workers are not considered essential, so if your application for a new or renewed passport isn’t already in the works, expect a delay if there’s a shutdown. During the last shutdown, the 200,000 passport applications went unprocessed, according to a Washington Post report at the time. Some 20,000 to 30,000 applications by foreigners for entry visas also went unprocessed each day.
8. Will law enforcement and public safety be affected?
Even though public safety, such as air traffic control and airport screenings, is considered an essential government function, some aspects would be affected by a shutdown. During the last shutdown, applications to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were delayed, including gun permits. Also suspended: work on bankruptcy cases, recruitment and testing of federal law enforcement officials (including border patrol agents), and enforcement of delinquent child support.
9. What would happen to small business loans, federal housing loans, and federal contractors?
Small business loans and federal housing loans would also stop during a shutdown.
Federal contractors would be hit hard, if it’s anything like the 1995 and ’96 shutdowns. During those shutdowns, more than 20 percent of the $18 billion in Washington area contracts were affected adversely, according to the CRS. Some employees of federal contractors were furloughed without pay.
Will The Federal Government Shut Down?Play video."
Will The Federal Government Shut Down?
10. Will President Obama and Congress go on furlough?
No, they are considered essential workers, as much as some voters might disagree. Still, some White House and congressional staff would be deemed “nonessential” and stay home during a shutdown.
11. What would happen to the District of Columbia, which is a “federal enclave”?
Washington is a city with more than 600,000 residents who pay local and federal taxes. But the city needs a federal appropriation to spend even its locally raised funds, and so during a federal shutdown, city services like trash collection would be suspended. On Sept. 25, Mayor Vincent Gray declared all D.C. public workers “essential” to avoid a disruption of city services during a shutdown.
12. Would a shutdown save the government money?
Probably not. The CFRB reports that estimates vary widely, but “evidence suggests that shutdowns tend to cost, not save, money.” Putting contingency plans in place costs money. And during a shutdown, user fees and other charges are not collected. The last shutdown cost the government $1.4 billion, according to an estimate by the Office of Management and Budget.
Here is a list of what to expect if a shutdown takes place:
1. What happens to national defense?
As with all government agencies, essential services will continue to be performed, as determined by the heads of the agencies.
“Military personnel would continue in a normal duty status,” a Department of Defense memo stated Sept. 23, adding that a “large number” number of the Department of Defense’s civilian employees would still be temporarily furloughed.
Two types of Defense employees escape furlough: One, if they are “performing emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property”; and two, those whose jobs are not funded by Congress via annual appropriations. All others face a furlough, which bars them from working, including as a volunteer.
2. Will Social Security and Medicare payments still be mailed?
Possible Government Shutdown: What Does It Mean fo …Play video."
Possible Government Shutdown: What Does It Mean for …
Yes, but…. Social Security and Medicare are entitlements, and as such, the spending is mandatory. So checks will still go out. But there could be delays if a lack of funds for worker salaries means a reduced workforce at their respective agencies. Also, new applications are likely not to be processed until the government reopens. In the 1996 shutdown, more than 10,000 Medicare applicants were turned away daily, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB).
During the shutdowns of 1995 and 1996, some Social Security employees were allowed to work, which kept benefits flowing to existing Social Security, disability, and black lung beneficiaries, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). But over time, more workers were brought back to process new claims and respond to other requests (such as from people who needed a Social Security card to work).
3. Will mail still be delivered?
Yes. The US Postal Service is self-funded – i.e., not funded by appropriations from the Treasury – and so mail service will continue as usual.
4. What about my vacation to Yellowstone National Park?
Sorry, all the national parks will close during a shutdown. So will all the attractions that are part of the federally funded Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoo. That would have meant no peek at the new baby panda, but she’s not scheduled for her public debut for about two more months (and one hopes that any shutdown would have ended long before).
During the last government shutdown, two periods that totaled 26 days in late 1995 and early 1996, the closure of 368 National Park Service sites meant a loss of 7 million visitors, and a loss of tourism dollars to local communities, the CRS reports. Closure of national museums and monuments meant a loss of 2 million visitors.
Keeping Your 401K Safe as Government Shutdown Loom …Play video."
Keeping Your 401K Safe as Government Shutdown Looms …
5. What will happen to the National Zoo’s baby panda?
All the zoo’s animals will still be fed and cared for, just not open to the public. The month-old baby panda is still nursing, but her mother, Mei Xiang, will of course be fed. The fate of Giant Panda Cam – the live video stream that allows obsessive panda-watchers to track mama and baby (while pretending to work) – is still up in the air. Volunteers run the video camera.
As The Washington Post points out, panda addicts will have to make do with the viral video of a baby panda sneezing.
6. Will government workers still get paid?
Back to the serious business of a shutdown. Federal workers placed on furlough will not get paid during a shutdown. After past shutdowns, Congress has voted to pay furloughed workers retroactively, but this time employee advocates aren’t so sure, given public (and some legislators’) attitudes toward the federal government.
“It’s a very different time and a very different Congress,” Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, told The Washington Post.
Essential workers who stay on the job during a shutdown would still get paid, though if the shutdown drags on long enough, their pay could be delayed.
Biden: Gov't Shutdown Would Not Affect Colo.Play video."
Biden: Gov't Shutdown Would Not Affect Colo.
7. What about renewing my passport?
Passport service workers are not considered essential, so if your application for a new or renewed passport isn’t already in the works, expect a delay if there’s a shutdown. During the last shutdown, the 200,000 passport applications went unprocessed, according to a Washington Post report at the time. Some 20,000 to 30,000 applications by foreigners for entry visas also went unprocessed each day.
8. Will law enforcement and public safety be affected?
Even though public safety, such as air traffic control and airport screenings, is considered an essential government function, some aspects would be affected by a shutdown. During the last shutdown, applications to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were delayed, including gun permits. Also suspended: work on bankruptcy cases, recruitment and testing of federal law enforcement officials (including border patrol agents), and enforcement of delinquent child support.
9. What would happen to small business loans, federal housing loans, and federal contractors?
Small business loans and federal housing loans would also stop during a shutdown.
Federal contractors would be hit hard, if it’s anything like the 1995 and ’96 shutdowns. During those shutdowns, more than 20 percent of the $18 billion in Washington area contracts were affected adversely, according to the CRS. Some employees of federal contractors were furloughed without pay.
Will The Federal Government Shut Down?Play video."
Will The Federal Government Shut Down?
10. Will President Obama and Congress go on furlough?
No, they are considered essential workers, as much as some voters might disagree. Still, some White House and congressional staff would be deemed “nonessential” and stay home during a shutdown.
11. What would happen to the District of Columbia, which is a “federal enclave”?
Washington is a city with more than 600,000 residents who pay local and federal taxes. But the city needs a federal appropriation to spend even its locally raised funds, and so during a federal shutdown, city services like trash collection would be suspended. On Sept. 25, Mayor Vincent Gray declared all D.C. public workers “essential” to avoid a disruption of city services during a shutdown.
12. Would a shutdown save the government money?
Probably not. The CFRB reports that estimates vary widely, but “evidence suggests that shutdowns tend to cost, not save, money.” Putting contingency plans in place costs money. And during a shutdown, user fees and other charges are not collected. The last shutdown cost the government $1.4 billion, according to an estimate by the Office of Management and Budget.
Let God lead the way!
Give a man a fish he eats for one day, teach him to fish he eats forever!
Give a man a fish he eats for one day, teach him to fish he eats forever!
