How The Federal Shutdown Impacts/Doesn't Impact The Westford Area

By Andrew Sylvia and Mary McDonald

• Anyone planning to visit a national park facility such as the Lowell National Historic Park (pictured) will find them more than likely closed. Some attractions, including the Freedom Trail in Boston, will be be open for self-guided walks, but will not have any guides at key sites. 

• Mail delivery is not affected. The U.S. Postal Service is funded through sale of  stamps and other products.

• Town services, such as schools, garbage pickup, and first responders are not impacted. Town Hall is open, as is the library and other town facilities. Town officials have indicated they have currently seen no immediate impact of any kind on town services.

• Regionally, the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments has said the lack of access to Census data may delay some of their projects.

•  Federal employees may be furloughed, and several thousand already have been as of Tuesday. In Natick, the employees at Natick Labs were placed on unpaid furloughs. And anyone seeking information from a federal agency, including the U.S. Department of Education, will learn that no one is updating their websites or social media accounts, because most employees are furloughed.