Republican lawmakers in Congress were unable on Thursday to put together a funding deal that could pass and now legislators in Washington, D.C., are racing to avoid looming a government shutdown.
The House voted 235-174 to reject the spending bill. The chamber needed two-thirds of the House to pass the continuing resolution funding bill. Thirty-eight Republicans joined 197 Democrats in opposing the bill.
With current funding expiring Friday night and Congress hoping to adjourn for the holidays, here’s a look at how a government shutdown could impact Oregon.
When is the government shutdown deadline?
A sign on the door to the FDR Library & Museum’s Wallace Visitor Center indicates that due to the government shutdown, the facilities are closed on December 24, 2018.
Current funding expires on Friday night. If a funding bill is not passed, then the government will furlough thousands of federal workers and reduce federal services.
What happens under a government shutdown?
Under a shutdown, all federal government services not deemed “essential” would stop.
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers, those deemed nonessential, would be furloughed, or sent home without pay.
What federal employees are considered essential and would continue working during a shutdown?
Employees who are classified as essential for critical operations in defense, energy, agriculture, and other sectors would continue to work, but without pay and would be reimbursed later.
Essential employees also include those working in air traffic control, border protection, law enforcement, in-hospital medical care, and power grid maintenance.
Nonessential workers are furloughed and are not allowed to work and don’t get paid until the government reopens, according to a breakdown compiled by Reuters.
What was the longest government shutdown?
About 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days during the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown in 2018 and 2019.
It was the third federal shutdown to occur during the first Trump administration; the first lasted three days in January 2018, and the second lasted only a few hours in February 2018.
The second longest government shutdown occurred during the Clinton administration. It lasted 21 days from Dec. 16, 1995, to Jan. 6, 1996.
How many federal employees are there in Oregon?
There are 19,000 federal civilian employees in Oregon — not including uniformed military personnel or federal contractors, according to the Congressional Research Service, as of September 2024.
In fiscal year 2023, Oregon received $2,546,341,290 in federal contracts, according to FEDSched, and the shutdown could affect thousands more of those firms’ workers.
Would Social Security payments stop under a shutdown?
No. Social Security is considered an essential service, so payments would continue to go out.
Social Security has “dedicated funding, so it’s outside of the budget process,” said Craig Copeland, director of wealth benefits research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. “All that money is there to be paid (out). It doesn’t have to be appropriated. … You’re still going to get your checks.”
According to the Social Security Administration, as of December 2023, almost 1 million Oregon residents — 927,847 — receive Social Security benefits.
Would Medicare and Medicaid benefits continue if there’s a shutdown?
Like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits would continue even if there is a shutdown, but they may be delayed.
According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, just under 1 million in Oregon — 1,095,344 — are enrolled in Medicare.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, more than 1 million Oregon residents — 1,432,473 — received Medicaid benefits as of November 2024.
Will mail from the US Postal Service continue?
Yes. You’ll continue to be able to send and receive mail, even if there is a shutdown.
“Because we are an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown,” the Postal Service said in September 2023.
SNAP, VA benefits will continue even under a government shutdown
Also supposed to continue are: military veterans’ benefits and medical care, and food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Does the military shut down during a government shutdown, law enforcement?
All active-duty U.S. military personnel stay on the job, but about half of the Pentagon’s 800,000 civilian employees could face furloughs. Another part of the military that would stay on the job would be the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees nuclear weapons.
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA and prison staff will remain operational. The Secret Service and Coast Guard will continue their duties.
Would national parks and monuments close during a shutdown?
Yes, a shutdown would close national parks and monuments. Facilities would be closed and park rangers, considered non-essential federal employees, would be furloughed.
Ahead of a potential shutdown in September 2023, the National Park Service encouraged the public to not visit park sites during the shutdown.
During a 35-day shutdown between December 2018 and January 2019, some national parks remained open as state governments provided temporary funding.
There are six national parks and four national trails in Oregon, according to the National Park Service, those parks are:
In 2023, 1 million park visitors spent an estimated $87 million at National Park Service lands in Oregon, supporting 1,199 jobs, according to the National Park Service.
How a government shutdown impacts borders and Homeland Security
Border Patrol and immigration enforcement agents will continue working. However, local governments will not receive new aid for migrant shelters.
Transportation during a government shutdown
Airport security screeners and air traffic controllers will remain on duty, but new hires and some major infrastructure projects could face delays.
Absenteeism, as seen in previous shutdowns, might impact airport operations. Shutdowns could lead to longer lines at the airport for holiday travelers.
What happens to Congressional pay?
Oregon lawmakers, and those from other states, will continue to receive paychecks during a shutdown, while staffers will be furloughed, though essential personnel will continue to work.
The compensation for most senators, representatives, delegates, and the resident commissioner from Puerto Rico is $174,000.
The only exceptions include the Speaker of the House (salary of $223,500) and the president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate (salary of $193,400)
A government shutdown’s impact on the White House
During past shutdowns, the White House furloughed a significant portion of its staff. Essential offices, including the National Security Council, will continue operating, while others will be scaled back. The president’s salary, $400,000, remains unaffected by a shutdown.
Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres.
Contributors: Savannah Kuchar, George Petras, Ramon Padilla, Mike Snider, Jalen Williams, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon could see effects as federal shutdown looms in budget fight
