What government work continues during shutdown?

(The Hill) — The federal government officially shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after lawmakers did little to prevent it over the prior two days. This is the first shutdown since midway through Trump’s first term.

Essential federal employees will continue to perform work for the government during a shutdown, with each agency carving out its own intricacies regarding adjusted operations.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, and service members will perform daily dutie,s as will air traffic controllers and border protection workers.

Here’s what you should know about government work during a shutdown:

What services and programs will continue?

Services that are not funded by annual appropriations bills will remain available to the public. Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, disaster aid, Medicare and Medicaid payouts all will be paid, though some may experience interruptions. 

During a government shutdown, some workers are furloughed or will be required to work without pay until the government reopens. 

Government contractors will not receive back pay. It’s unclear how many employees may be furloughed or laid off during the shutdown, but in previous years, the financial impact has been harsh. 

The 2018-2019 shutdown under the first Trump administration cost the U.S. economy $11 billion, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. 

What services and programs will be temporarily halted?

Some services will become unavailable temporarily during a government shutdown. Programs run by the National Park Service, federal grants issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and clinical trials operated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be stalled. 

Head Start early learning programs for children could be paused due to the halt in federal grant funding. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program disbursements could briefly cease in some states while others may see trash collection and road repairs stop. 

There could also be disruption to student aid, including the processing of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), disbursing of Pell Grants and federal direct student loans, and servicing federal student loans payments. Borrowers are still expected to make payments during this time. 

All tours at the U.S. Capitol, the White House, FBI headquarters, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Garden will be suspended during a shutdown. But the Smithsonian announced late on Tuesday that it could keep museums open until at least Monday using prior-year funds.

Federal gun permit applications will also not be processed.

What could President Trump approve or enact during a shutdown?

President Trump does have power over federal agencies, and he’s already promised to use it during the shutdown to influence changes.

“We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them,” Trump said of Democrats on Tuesday. 

“Like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like,” he added. 

In a rare move prior to the shutdown, the White House Office of Budget Management (OMB) directed federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs, which the administration already carried out earlier this year through efforts led by the Department of Government Efficiency in an attempt to cut out waste. 

However, federal government labor unions on Tuesday sued the Trump administration to block them from conducting mass layoffs during the shutdown.