- Essential services like mail delivery, air traffic control, and Social Security payments will continue.
- Non-essential functions, such as national parks, may close or have limited services.
The government has shut down after Republicans and Democrats were unable to come to an agreement on funding.
Congressional Democrats had refused to support any funding extensions that didn’t address a slate of health care demands. Republicans refused to budge and, unable to come to a deal, the partial government shutdown began on Oct. 1 at 12:01 a.m.
During the shutdown, “essential” government services such as the U.S. Postal Service and air traffic control continue working, but “non-essential” functions like national parks close or cut staffing.
During a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers deemed nonessential are furloughed until funding is passed, meaning they won’t work and won’t be paid. In Massachusetts, there are 29,709 federal workers who will be furloughed or forced to work without pay during a shutdown, according to Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
Here’s what you need to know about how the shutdown will affect you in Massachusetts.
Are airports closed?
Table of Contents
- Are airports closed?
- Can I still get a passport with the government shutdown?
- Will I still receive mail during a government shutdown?
- What happens to national parks?
- Will I get my Social Security check?
- What happens to Medicare and Medicaid during a shutdown?
- Will I get my veterans’ benefits?
- What happens to SNAP?
- Does the military shut down during a government shutdown?
- What about law enforcement?
- How long could the shutdown last?
The airports are still open, as they are considered mandatory.
Airport security screeners and air traffic controllers remain on duty, but without pay, during a government shutdown. If the shutdown lasts until employees will not or cannot continue to work without pay, as has happened before, travelers could experience longer wait times and flight delays.
31,606 people fly through Massachusetts airports every day, according to McGovern. You can check your flight status from Logan Airport here, and follow along latest news from their X account.
Can I still get a passport with the government shutdown?
Passport services will also remain operational but could be delayed in the case of a prolonged shutdown, and access to in-person passport services in some government buildings could be limited.
Will I still receive mail during a government shutdown?
Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a government shutdown.
What happens to national parks?
National parks, monuments and other sites are not considered mandatory spending and may be closed to the public, with rangers furloughed and facilities shut down.
Some states temporarily fund park operations, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, but they could see trash buildup and a lack of visitor services due to a lack of staff.
There are 16 sites under the National Parks Service in Massachusetts, including Cape Cod National Seashore, the Minute Man National Historical Park and Saugus Iron Works. According to McGovern, 8,217,575 people visit national parks in Massachusetts every year.
Closures are often determined on a case-by-case basis, so you should check the park you were hoping to visit.
Social Security is a mandatory spending program that is not subject to annual appropriations, so you will still receive Social Security during the shutdown.
However, staffing and some services could be impacted if they have a discretionary spending component, according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a nonprofit that studies federal fiscal policy. Customer wait times will likely increase.
What happens to Medicare and Medicaid during a shutdown?
The federal Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs also are considered mandatory spending, so benefits won’t be impacted during the government shutdown.
Will I get my veterans’ benefits?
Similar to Social Security, veterans will continue to receive their benefits and medical care. VA hospitals will also remain open.
What happens to SNAP?
Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are also considered mandatory spending and will continue, though it could be affected if the shutdown lasts longer than 30 days.
However, McGovern said that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may soon run out of funding, leaving nearly 126,000 people in the state without access.
Does the military shut down during a government shutdown?
All active-duty U.S. military personnel stay on the job, but without pay.
What about law enforcement?
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA and prison staff will remain operational. The Secret Service and Coast Guard will continue their duties.
How long could the shutdown last?
The federal government has partially closed down 21 times for a total of 162 days since 1977. That’s an average of nearly eight days per shutdown.
The longest government shutdown lasted 35 days. Spanning from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019, it is also the most recent federal shutdown in U.S. history.
It was the third federal shutdown to occur during the 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.
Contributing: Zac Anderson, Bart Jansen
