How the federal shutdown could disrupt daily life in Pa.
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The federal government shut down Wednesday morning — hitting Pennsylvania's 100,000 federal workers hardest and potentially slowing some government services.
Why it matters: Congress deadlocked on spending and failed to reach a budget deal by Tuesday night — triggering furloughs for some federal workers, with many essential workers like air traffic controllers and TSA personnel asked to work without pay until the standoff ends.
- The shutdown is overlapping with a three-month state budget impasse that's already stalling billions for schools and social services, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports.
By the numbers: U.S. Census data shows about 19,000 federal workers in the Pittsburgh metro area.
The big picture: Essential federal services — like new Social Security and Medicare actions, SNAP benefits, VA medical care, National Weather Service forecasts and mail delivery — generally keep running during a short-term shutdown, though longer wait times and delays are possible.
- The Small Business Administration (SBA) will not process new small-business loans.
- Federal financial aid disbursements will continue and student loan payments are still due, per AP, though U.S. Department of Education furloughs may cause processing delays.
- Trails, roads and open-air monuments at National Park Service sites are expected to remain open, Politico reports, despite minimal staffing, fewer services and some building closures.
Case in point: Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center — operated by the Gettysburg Foundation — will remain open during regular hours, but Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Eisenhower National Historic Site tours are closed alongside certain educational programs and information desks operated by the NPS.
Between the lines: A 2019 law ensures federal workers get back pay after shutdowns.
Yes, but: Delayed pay can still sting, particularly for employees still footing commuting costs, Richard Gennetti, an American Federation of Government Employees rep for Pennsylvania workers, told the Erie Times-News.
- "It's very difficult, and it's a very cruel thing to do to federal employees," he said.
Threat level: Trump has floated using the shutdown to accelerate firing thousands of federal workers his administration deems nonessential, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.
Flashback: The longest government shutdown in U.S history stretched 35 days from late 2018 to early 2019 during President Trump's first term.
What's next: If the shutdown stretches past a month, food aid that 2 million Pennsylvanians rely on could be delayed, The Hill reports.