Here's How CT Is Impacted By Federal Government Shutdown

A partial government shutdown took effect at midnight as lawmakers failed to reach a deal that keeps several federal agencies funded. On Friday, President Donald Trump threatened that "there will be a shutdown that will last for a very long time" if Senate Democrats don't vote for a spending bill that has funds earmarked for a border wall.

On Thursday, Trump informed House Republicans he would not sign a stopgap funding bill that had passed in the Senate. A bill passed in the House of Representatives later on Thursday included $5 billion in funding for the border wall but it was unlikely to pass in the Senate. Both the House and the Senate have adjourned for the day, putting an end to any chance of a deal being being reached before midnight.

Trump was tweeting non-stop about getting the spending bill passed Friday morning. He called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to "fight for the Wall and Border Security as hard as he has fought for anything." Trump, who said he would be "proud" to shut down the government also tried to shift blame for the shutdown to Democrats. He also suggested that McConnell should change Senate rules so the spending bill could be passed without any Democratic votes. McConnell has previously resisted the rule change and a spokesman for the majority leader reiterated his opposition.

McConnell urged approval of the bill passed by the House saying it is neither "radical" nor difficult to explain.

Here’s a look at what would the government shutdown looks like and its impact on Connecticut:

A report prepared by Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee says that around 800,000 federal workers would be furloughed or have to work without pay. In Connecticut, there are roughly 7,500 federal employees and about 1,500 would be impacted, the Hartford Courant reports.

Airports including Bradley International Airport, will continue to function during the busy holiday travel season, but Transportation Security Administration employees and Customs and Border Patrol agents are among those employees who would have to work without pay. Federal law enforcement agents and correctional officers would also continue to work without pay.

The Hartford Courant says the state's two Veterans Administration hospitals in West Haven and Newington are not impacted by the government shutdown.

The shutdown will affect nine federal departments, including Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, State and Justice, The Associated Press reports. The Courant notes that all of the state's military members do get paid during the shutdown except for the Coast Guard.

The shutdown will also affect national parks and forests. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, during the last government shutdown in January, a third of national park sites were completely closed. Gates at many other park sites remained open but few staff were on hand, and visitors centers and restrooms remained locked. The NPCA said the guidance provided by the Department of Interior is unlikely to change but the effect could differ from park to park.

The Post Office will stay open during a government shutdown and Social Security payments would go out as usual.

The report prepared by Democratic senators on the Appropriations Committee also lays out what specific groups the shutdown would affect. Here’s what the report says:

• Farmers would suffer, as the USDA will close local and state farm service centers across the U.S.
• Over 30 million small businesses would no longer have access to federally-assisted loans and technical assistance.
• The Federal Housing Administration would see “significant delays in loan processing and approvals.”
• Local jurisdictions would not be able to move forward with Community Development Block Grant projects.
• With the shutdown of national parks, economies of local communities that depend on them for tourism would be affected.
• Civil litigation, payment to victims and training for state and local law enforcement would stop during a shutdown.
• Companies petitioning to avoid tariff on steel and aluminum products would not be able to do so.
• Food banks that receive commodities from the USDA would be affected.
• Small and remote rural communities that lack adequate clean drinking water would not be able to seek assistance to construct water systems.
• Payment to public housing agencies would be delayed.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report. Written by Feroze Dhanoa

>>>Read More at the Hartford Courant.