How the government shutdown impacts West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — For the first time since 2019, the U.S. government has shut down while lawmakers are at a standstill.

The last shutdown in 2019 lasted five weeks, and although the shutdown does not mean an instant collapse of all government functions, certain things will change until Congress comes to an agreement.

Government workers aren’t paid

Government employees that are not designated as essential employees will not work during the shutdown. Normally, employees who are not essential are furloughed, but President Donald Trump has expressed that some workers may be permanently laid off instead, The Hill reported.

There is not an exact definition of what employees are essential, but they will include certain positions law enforcement, public safety, health care, public health, education, food and agriculture, transportation and energy. However, many of these employees will not be paid for their essential work until after the shutdown.

According to the West Virginia Center of Budget & Policy, West Virginia has nearly 23,000 federal employees.

Federal museums and parks lose support

One immediate impact in West Virginia is the loss of the staff for federal museums and national parks. Most national park employees are not considered essential, so although certain open-air sites and most of the outdoor recreation opportunities in the New River Gorge National Park will remain open, public buildings that require staffing like visitor centers and museums will be closed, according to NBC News. Many of the sites in West Virginia’s Harpers Ferry National Historic Park will be closed.

Additionally, staff that maintain trails, empty trash cans and clean bathrooms will not be working, so visitors to locations that are still open might notice that they are not upkept to the usual standard.

What’s not impacted

In general, non-government workers will not see as much impact from the shutdown. Things like Social Security payments, mail, student loans, Veterans Affairs benefits, Medicare and Medicaid should not be impacted, although employees who provide those services will go without pay.

Federally funded research at places like West Virginia University could be impacted if the shutdown lasts, but WVU said in a release that its funds and research will not see much immediate impact, although certain deadlines, payments for grants, and projects that work with federal employees will be delayed.