Federal Government Shuts Down: What To Know In MN

ST. PAUL, MN — About 750,000 federal workers, including some from Minnesota, are expected to be furloughed, and some potentially fired, after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as Trump vows to “do things that are irreversible, that are bad” as retribution. The economic fallout is expected to ripple nationwide.

Republicans crafted a short-term measure to fund the government through Nov. 21, but Democrats insisted the measure address their concerns on health care. They wanted to reverse the Medicaid cuts in Trump's mega-bill passed this summer and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.

The Senate rejected the measure Tuesday on a 55-45 vote that fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill.

Minnesota’s U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith both voted against the measure.

Here’s what Minnesota’s members of Congress who have spoken out about the shutdown are saying:

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

• “The President has made his position clear: He’d rather shut down the government than prevent the GOP health care crisis.”

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN)

• “Undocumented immigrants aren’t even allowed to access Medicare, Medicaid or ACA credits.”

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)

• “Republicans – who control the House of Representatives, Senate and White House – failed to do their job of keeping the government open.”
• “When they are ready to put their money where their mouth is, I’ll be here ready to pass a funding bill that serves everyday Minnesotans.”

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN)

• “House Republicans have done our job to fund the government with a clean, nonpartisan funding bill.”
• “Democrats are out of touch with the American people.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

• “Republicans are shutting down the government because they don’t want to fix the health care crisis they created.”

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

• “House Democrats have tried to keep government open and lower health care costs, but House Republicans stopped us.”
• “I do not want a government shutdown. What I want is for Minnesotans and all Americans to have access to high-quality affordable healthcare.”

Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN)

• “Our priority is the American people. We've made many reforms to cut waste, fraud, and abuse this year.”
• “We voted to keep the government OPEN, to do our job and support the American people.”

Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN)

• “Our ask to Republicans is simple: protect Americans' access to health care and stop the government from shutting down.”

Here are some things to know:

What Happens In A Shutdown?

When a lapse in funding occurs, the law requires agencies to cease activity and furlough “non-excepted” employees. Excepted employees include those who work to protect life and property. Typically, they stay on the job but don’t get paid until after the shutdown ends.

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has threatened the mass firing of federal workers in a shutdown. An OMB memo said those programs that didn’t get funding through Trump’s mega-bill this summer would bear the brunt of a shutdown.

That would be a much more aggressive step than in previous shutdowns, when furloughed federal workers returned to their jobs once Congress approved government spending.

What Government Work Will Continue?

A great deal, actually.

FBI investigators, CIA officers, air traffic controllers and agents operating airport checkpoints keep working. So do members of the Armed Forces.

Those programs that rely on mandatory spending also generally continue during a shutdown. Social Security payments continue going out. Seniors relying on Medicare coverage can still see their doctors and health care providers and submit claims for payment and be reimbursed.

Veteran health care also continues during a shutdown. Veterans Affairs medical centers and outpatient clinics will be open, and VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered. Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries.

Will The Mail Be Delivered?

Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown. It's an independent entity funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars.

What Closes During A Shutdown?

All administrations get some leeway to choose which services to freeze and which to maintain in a shutdown.

The first Trump administration worked to blunt the impact of what became the country's longest partial shutdown in 2018 and 2019. But in the selective reopening of offices, experts say they saw a willingness to cut corners, scrap prior plans and wade into legally dubious territory to mitigate the pain.

Each federal agency develops its own shutdown plan. The plans outline which agency workers would stay on the job during a shutdown and which would be furloughed.

Shutdown Practices In The Past

Some agencies have recently updated plans on their websites. Others still have plans that were last updated months or years ago, providing an indication of past precedent that could guide the Trump administration.

Here are some excerpts from those plans:

Health and Human Services: The agency will furlough about 41 percent of its staff out of nearly 80,000 employees, according to a contingency plan posted on its website. The remaining employees will keep up activities needed to protect human life and property.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The agency will continue monitoring for disease outbreaks. Direct medical services through the Indian Health Service and the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center will remain available. However, the CDC communications to the public will be hampered and NIH will not admit new patients to the Clinical Center, except those for whom it's medically necessary.

Food and Drug Administration: The agency says its “ability to protect and promote public health and safety would be significantly impacted, with many activities delayed or paused.” For example, the agency would not accept new drug applications or medical device submissions that require payment of a user fee.

Education Department: About 1,500 of 1,700 employees, excluding federal student aid workers, will be furloughed. The department will continue to disburse student aid such as Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans. Student loan borrowers will still be required to make payments on their outstanding debt.

National Park Service: As a general rule, if a facility or area is inaccessible during nonbusiness hours, it’ll be locked for the duration of the lapse in funding, according to a March 2024 plan. At parks where it’s impractical or impossible to restrict public access, staffing will vary by park. Generally, where parks have accessible park areas, including park roads, lookouts, trails, campgrounds, and open-air memorials, these areas will remain physically accessible to the public.

Transportation Department: Air traffic controller hiring and field training would cease, as would routine personnel security background checks and air traffic performance analysis, a March 2025 update says.

Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, like all Smithsonian museums, receives federal funding. Thus, during a government shutdown, the zoo — and the rest of the Smithsonian museums — must close to the public, according to the notice.

Economic Fallout Expected To Ripple Nationwide
An economic jolt could be felt in a matter of days. The government is expected Friday to produce its monthly jobs report, which may or may not be delivered.

While the financial markets have generally “shrugged” during past shutdowns, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis, this one could be different partly because there are no signs of broader negotiations.

“There are also few good analogies to this week’s potential shutdown,” the analysis said.

Across the government, preparations have been underway. Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russ Vought, directed agencies to execute plans for not just furloughs, as are typical during a federal funding lapse, but mass firings of federal workers. It’s part of the Trump administration’s mission, including its Department of Government Efficiency, to shrink the federal government.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.