The federal government shutdown at midnight on Sept. 30 and could disrupt or slow many services that Texans rely on.
Thousands of federal workers in Texas went to work on Wednesday without a guarantee of a paycheck, while other federal civilian employees who are not deemed essential will be furloughed or get caught in a ‘reduction of forces’ (RIF) ending their employment.
Texas is home to more federal civilian employees than all but three other states with the workforce spread across five agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Army, the Air Force, the Department of Defense and the Department of the Treasury. Including uniformed personnel, the Defense Department employed more than 200,000 Texans last year.
The Department of Defense’s shutdown contingency plan requires active-duty military personnel to continue to report for duty without pay. Texas hosts 15 activeduty military installations, including multiple Air Force bases, Army depots and Naval Air Stations. The funding gap means a likely work stoppage for national parks, certain employees at the veteran’s benefits offices and Department of Agriculture service centers across the state.
Workers who perform critical functions, such as air traffic controller and TSA agents at Texas airports will report to duty – without pay until the Congressional standoff ends.
Other services typically deemed essential and continued during shutdowns include delivery of benefits, federal law enforcement operations, veterans’ health care and ilitary functions. That means Border Patrol officers, and providers at VA hospitals. Programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are funded separately from Congress’ annual spending bills and are thus largely unaffected by government shutdowns. Workers traditionally stay on to ensure those benefits are delivered, but furloughs could prompt delays for Texans who need administrative help.
Republicans in Congress tried to avert the funding gap earlier this month by passing a short-term “continuing resolution” that would have extended funding for seven more weeks. The measure passed the House in mid-September with support from all 25 Texas Republicans. The state’s 12 House Democrats voted against the resolution.
Defense’s shutdown contingency plan requires active-duty military personnel to continue to report for duty without pay. Texas hosts 15 activeduty military installations, including multiple Air Force bases, Army depots and Naval Air Stations.
The Departments of Defense and Homeland Security said it will continue law enforcement work along the border. Nearly all U.S. Customs and Border Protection workforce is expected to stay on during the shutdown.
DHS also plans to keep over 90 percent of ICE on board during the shutdown, who will continue the bulk of its activities including raids and other law enforcement tactics.
FEMA is frequently deployed to help Texas recover from natural disasters, will require most of its employees to continue working, according to DHS’ shutdown plan.
Travelers could face significant delays at airports across the country, including in Texas, during the shutdown. TSA workers and air traffic controllers are considered essential employees, which means they would be required to work without pay. The shutdown will also halt the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers.