As Congress struggles to find a path to avert the government shutdown with funding set to expire on Sept. 30, the suspension of many government operations and businesses is likely to take effect as well.
The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Sunday if Congress fails to pass legislation to renew funding by the deadline, and with hard-line Republicans pushing for deep spending cuts, the possibility of a shutdown is high.
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Apart from the federal government being unable to pay millions of its employees, others are concerned about what will remain open or closed in the event of a government shutdown.
What will close?
A shutdown would unleash many disruptions across the city, including the workplaces for hundreds and thousands of employees in the federal government. Federal courts will be able to remain open for at least two weeks, until at least Oct. 13. However, the Supreme Court should be unaffected.
Operations that receive federal funds, like all Smithsonian Museums, National Zoo, the National Gallery of Art, and the Botanic Garden may close down if they have no funds. During the last government shutdown from Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 25, 2019, the longest in history, museums were able to remain open for several days. The National Arboretum and the Library of Congress buildings are scheduled to be closed.
White House tours will come to a halt, and the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center will be closed off to the public.
What will remain open?
The United States Postal Service will not be interrupted by a government shutdown despite multiple other agencies temporarily halting their operations. The postal service does not depend on Congress for funding, as they are self-funded from the revenue of their products and sales.
Airports will stay open, but there could be travel delays nationwide depending on how long the shutdown carries on. Wait times may be longer due to fewer security checkpoints and a lack of staffing, as seen in the last government shutdown. Paychecks for much of the Transportation Security Administration were paused, which could create a shortage of qualified workers.
Day-to-day operations in Washington, D.C., will still be functional, such as the Department of Public Works and the Department of Motor Vehicles, because they are operated and funded locally, not the federal government.
The Metro, including buses, will also be open, including other public transportation options. Metro ridership is on the rise again after feeling the effects of teleworkers over the pandemic, but many of the riders are federal employees, according to Metro General Manager Randy Clarke, meaning the system could see a lull again.
Several district attractions, museums, and historic sites won’t close, including the National Building Museum, the International Spy Museum, the Museum of Illusions, President Lincoln’s Cottage, and others.
Public libraries and Washington government-operated public parks are set to remain open.
What will close outside of DC?
Some national parks could close, but the Department of the Interior, which handles parks and monuments, has yet to make a decision. During the most recent shutdown, operations were affected by overflowing trash cans and unkempt conditions.
Delayed paychecks would affect active-duty members across the country and overseas, with the first missed check passing on Oct. 13. The Pentagon laid out multiple different roles that would be affected by the shutdown, noting many civilian military employees would face furloughs. Recruiting and basic training would carry on instead of a shutdown.
Extracurricular activities for military families in schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity will pause during a shutdown, but educational services across 11 foreign countries and seven states, including Guam and Puerto Rico, will stay operational, according to the Military Times.
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Amid a surge of unlawful border crossings, a shutdown could weaken security, as border agents would work without pay. Speaking on the Senate floor on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned President Joe Biden that the shutdown of the government is a choice and one “that would make the crisis at our southern border even worse.”
During the 2018 shutdown, which was triggered over an impasse about funding for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, customs and Border Patrol agents continued working at the border crossing without pay.
