Government Shutdown: Here’s What Would Be Affected In Colorado

LAKEWOOD, CO – A deal to keep the government funded and avoid a partial shutdown before Christmas Day hit a serious roadblock on Thursday when the White House said that “at this moment” President Donald Trump “does not want to go further without border security, which includes steel slats or a wall.” The statement also said the president is “continuing to weigh his options.”

In Colorado, there were 54,562 federal employees (including postal workers) as of June 2017, many of whom work in Lakewood. There were also 35,114 active military personnel in the state.

If it takes place, the shutdown would affect nine federal departments, including Homeland Security (630 Colorado employees), Transportation (1,390 Colorado employees), Interior (6,524 Colorado employees), Agriculture (3,697 employees), Commerce (1,419), State (35) and Justice (867), The Associated Press reports.

The shutdown would also affect national parks and forests. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, during the last government shutdown in January, a third of national park sites were completely closed. Gates at many other park sites remained open but few staff were on hand, and visitors centers and restrooms remained locked. The NPCA said the guidance provided by the Department of Interior is unlikely to change but the effect could differ from park to park.

After a meeting with House Republican leaders on Thursday, chances of a shutdown seemed even more likely when House Speaker Paul Ryan said the president had informed them he would not sign a spending bill passed by the Senate.

The Senate passed a stopgap funding bill on Wednesday that keeps the government funded past Friday. The temporary funding bill would keep the government running until Feb. 8, but some Republicans say it’s better to fight for the border wall now, before they relinquish their majority in the House to Democrats in the new year. Trump had originally demanded $5 billion to fund the border wall but White House officials said earlier this week he was willing to settle for far less. The current bill offers $1.3 billion for border security, but the appropriation cannot be used to build a wall.

House Republicans say they will continue to work to come up with a deal. In the meantime, here’s a look at what would happen if lawmakers are unable to reach a deal that keeps the government sufficiently funded.

A report prepared by Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee says that around 800,000 federal workers would be furloughed or have to work without pay. Airports would continue to function during the busy holiday travel season, but Transportation Security Administration employees and Customs and Border Patrol agents are among those employees who would have to work without pay. Federal law enforcement agents and correctional officers would also continue to work without pay.

The Post Office would stay open during a government shutdown and Social Security payments would go out as usual.

The report prepared by Democratic senators on the Appropriations Committee also lays out what specific groups the shutdown would affect. Here’s what the report says:

• Farmers would suffer, as the USDA will close local and state farm service centers across the U.S.
• Over 30 million small businesses would no longer have access to federally-assisted loans and technical assistance.
• The Federal Housing Administration would see “significant delays in loan processing and approvals.”
• Local jurisdictions would not be able to move forward with Community Development Block Grant projects.
• With the shutdown of national parks, economies of local communities that depend on them for tourism would be affected.
• Civil litigation, payment to victims and training for state and local law enforcement would stop during a shutdown.
• Companies petitioning to avoid tariff on steel and aluminum products would not be able to do so.
• Food banks that receive commodities from the USDA would be affected.
• Small and remote rural communities that lack adequate clean drinking water would not be able to seek assistance to construct water systems.
• Payment to public housing agencies would be delayed.

By Feroze Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.