How the federal government shutdown affects Louisiana
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The federal government shutdown officially began as the clock struck midnight Oct. 1.
Why it matters: For thousands of federal workers, that means a likely pause in paychecks and a pause on many government services.
The big picture: Generally, federal functions deemed "essential" — including health programs, new Social Security and Medicare actions, SNAP benefits, FDA inspections and small business support — don't pause during a shutdown, writes Axios' Herb Scribner.
- It's unclear how many employees will be furloughed during the shutdown, but even those who do maintain paychecks may see some delays in receiving them. Go deeper.
- The Trump administration may also take the shutdown as an opportunity to permanently fire additional staff.
Zoom in: Federal workers are largely concentrated around D.C., but they are employed in every state, including Louisiana, which counted just under 20,000 federal workers in September 2024.
National Flood Insurance Program: Despite a last-ditch bipartisan effort to get it partially funded, the NFIP expired with the shutdown.
- Although current NFIP policies will remain in effect, they can't be renewed until the program gets more funding, according to Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple's office.
- The NFIP also can't issue new policies, Temple's office says, potentially hindering new home sales.
National Weather Service: With two named storms in the Atlantic and weeks left to go in hurricane season, the NWS will continue to issue weather alerts and forecasts.
- But it's pausing other public-facing events, including tours and outreach activities, the NWS says.
Here are a few other ways people in Louisiana may see the impacts of the federal government shutdown:
- Airline travelers may experience delays. TSA agents and air traffic controllers are asked to work without pay during a shutdown — but they may call in sick or use other forms of PTO to avoid doing so.
- It might be more difficult to access government data.
- National parks will be only partially open. A Wednesday call to the Jean Lafitte French Quarter Visitors Center, for example, ended in a recorded message that no one was available because of the shutdown.