How the federal government shutdown could affect Texans
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Air traffic controllers and TSA workers are among millions of federal employees working without pay during the first government shutdown since 2019.
- Americans may also experience slower response times when contacting federal agencies during the shutdown.
The big picture: Many Democrats are holding out on a funding extension, saying Congress should extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits due to expire at year's end. President Trump has called their demands "ridiculous."
The latest: The shutdown began Wednesday after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a funding deal.
- Yom Kippur is Thursday, and Congress typically recesses for the Jewish holiday. That means discussions might not resume until Friday.
State of play: Millions of government employees won't get paid during the shutdown, and federal agencies might slow down. Several government websites are also not being updated.
- Federal functions deemed essential — including health programs, new Social Security and Medicare actions, SNAP benefits and FDA inspections — typically don't pause during a shutdown.
Zoom in: Texas is home to roughly 131,000 federal civilian workers as of September 2024. That number may be smaller now because of the Trump administration's mass layoffs, which are still being challenged in court.
- National parks in Texas and across the country will be "as accessible as possible" during the shutdown but may limit their services, per the National Park Service.
- Texans who need administrative help from federal agencies could experience delays, per the Texas Tribune.
Threat level: A law passed during the 2019 shutdown allows federal workers to automatically receive back pay once funding resumes, though President Trump has said "a lot" of government employees could be laid off.
What we're watching: The shutdown's impacts could be felt more deeply if it stretches into next week.
- Ali Hard, policy director at the National WIC Association, told Politico she is "very concerned" about the program running out of funds if the shutdown lasts over a "week or so."
- And staff shortages at airports could lead to flight delays or cancellations.
Flashback: The longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretched 35 days during President Trump's first term and ended when Trump made a concession on immigration.
Go deeper: How shutdowns affect daily life