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In Texas, the potential consequences of the current situation are significant. More than 100,000 active duty service members may face the unfortunate prospect of not receiving their paychecks. Additionally, a larger number of civilians employed by federal agencies in the state might be forced to take unpaid leave or continue working without compensation. The availability of food subsidies for low-income women, infants, and children could be jeopardized. Airport security lines may become lengthier, causing inconvenience for travelers. Furthermore, there is a possibility of delayed FEMA payments to state and local governments.
Thousands of Texans would face financial instability due to an ideological conflict in Congress, leading to an impending federal shutdown. Although Congress is currently discussing strategies to fund the government, the approaching end of the fiscal year on October 1 leaves less than a week for a resolution, making a shutdown highly likely.
Republicans are pointing fingers at one another while Democrats readily assign blame to Republicans. Since gaining the majority this year, the House Republican Conference has been divided, with a number of extreme right-wing Republicans willing to sabotage Congress’ annual appropriations process in order to push for stricter border security measures, significant reductions in spending, and an end to additional aid to Ukraine.
None of these priorities stand a chance of succeeding in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
What will be impacted
Depending on their agency and the amount of reserve funds, federal employees in Texas may face the possibility of not receiving their paychecks. The state is home to more than 120,000 civilian federal employees and over 114,000 active duty service members. Among the civilian workforce are air traffic controllers, airport security officers, Medicare service center workers, and Customs and Border Protection personnel.
Essential employees may be obligated to work without receiving immediate compensation, but they will be entitled to back pay once the federal government resumes operations. Typically, employees involved in vital sectors like air travel and defense are classified as essential.
Working without pay can place employees in a difficult situation, as it can make it challenging for them to provide for their families and meet their financial obligations. During the previous government shutdown, which lasted for more than 30 days between 2018 and 2019, there was a significant increase in demand for assistance from food banks among furloughed federal workers, according to Celia Cole, the CEO of Feeding Texas.
According to Cole, thousands of families in Texas will experience a state of uncertainty. This situation is particularly concerning as many people in the state are already living paycheck to paycheck, and may soon require assistance from their local food banks.
Legislation separate from the yearly appropriations process funds Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, ensuring that regular benefit payments will continue. However, due to the staffing shortage, there may be delays in providing support for these programs. Texans will not have access to offices for enrolling or renewing eligibility for these programs as they will be closed.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is sufficient funding to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, previously referred to as food stamps, will be distributed as usual throughout October, even in the event of a government shutdown. However, if the shutdown extends beyond a month, similar to the situation in 2019, it is uncertain whether the program will continue without interruption. Notably, more than 3 million Texans rely on this program.
According to a spokesperson from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, also known as SNAP, will continue to be available until at least the end of October. This essential program aids nearly 800,000 Texans in accessing food and formula during pregnancy and after giving birth.
The spokesperson mentioned that the HHSC is closely observing the possibility of a shutdown and is assessing funding alternatives for services and staff positions that might be impacted in the event of a federal shutdown.
Border security, a critical aspect, may face negative consequences. U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, highlighted the potential impact on Customs and Border Protection officers. These officers already endure low morale due to extended working hours and inadequate funding. If they are compelled to work without receiving pay, their working conditions will only deteriorate further.
A Senate study after the 2018-2019 shutdown found that the Department of Homeland Security delayed maintenance of border facilities at the time due to lack of funding, which “endangered the lives of law enforcement officers and created significant border security vulnerabilities.”
If the government shuts down, there is a possibility that Border Patrol agents in rural Texas, who often assist law enforcement in border areas, may have to perform their duties without receiving their regular pay. This was evident during the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde, where over half of the responders were Border Patrol agents.
Escobar emphasized the significance of federal employees in rural areas, stating that they play a vital role. These individuals serve as the backbone of law enforcement for many rural communities. However, the actions of House Republicans convey a conflicting message, essentially indicating that these federal employees are needed but not deserving of proper compensation.
In 2013, Congress managed to pass a bill just in time to ensure that active duty military personnel would receive their pay during the government shutdown. Presently, lawmakers are making a similar effort. U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz, a Republican from Edinburg, recently introduced a bill to safeguard Border Patrol pay. However, considering the House’s struggle to pass even the necessary procedural rules for appropriations legislation, there is only a limited window for these emergency bills to be approved.
The shutdown could also jeopardize payments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency during hurricane season. The agency has already begun delaying payments to ration money, The Washington Post reported, meaning state projects to recover from disasters could be held up.
Texas also has over 4,700 Transportation Security Administration officers and over 1,200 air traffic controllers — all of whom would likely have to work without a paycheck if the shutdown stretches beyond their next pay period. The loss of pay could lead to low morale and agents calling in sick, as occurred during the last shutdown.
“In a statement, Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, emphasized the importance of maintaining uninterrupted funding to ensure the hiring, training, and payment of crucial air safety professionals. He declared the previous shutdowns’ slowdowns and scarcity of safety personnel as unacceptable.”
How it got here
Since 1996, Congress has consistently missed the Sept. 30 deadline to pass appropriations legislation, which allocates funds to federal programs. To make up for this delay, Congress has resorted to passing temporary funding measures known as continuing resolutions, allowing them more time to pass year-long funding bills.
However, there are a number of Republicans on the far-right who are unwilling to approve a continuing resolution unless significant compromises are made. These compromises include the implementation of a House Republican bill aimed at strengthening border security, which is strongly disliked by Democrats. Additionally, they are insisting on putting an end to aid provided to Ukraine, despite the majority of Senate Republicans and Democrats recognizing it as a crucial national security concern.
According to U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, Republicans are willing to prioritize their political gains over the welfare of working people and the economy, which he finds disgraceful and wrong. Texans should be aware of this.
Earlier this month, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached an agreement with the far-right to pass a continuing resolution that would ensure government funding for the first 30 days of the new fiscal year. This deal allows more time for the passage of comprehensive appropriations legislation. The agreement entails an 8% reduction in non-defense discretionary spending, the removal of Ukraine aid, and the addition of the House Republican border security bill.
Border security is a key demand made by Texas Republicans, who insist on its inclusion in any funding agreement. However, it is important to note that a government shutdown could potentially undermine the defenses along the southern border. The House Republican border security bill was developed by conservative members of the Texas delegation, aiming to strengthen measures against cartels, construct a border wall, and maintain asylum seekers in Mexico.
The continuing resolution deal received immediate criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who deemed it unacceptable. The amount of spending proposed falls significantly below the limit previously negotiated by the White House and McCarthy to raise the debt limit earlier this year. Additionally, it involves substantial cuts to various programs, including education and health care. On Tuesday, the Senate reached its own bipartisan agreement on a continuing resolution, which directly contradicts the proposal put forth by House Republicans.
U.S. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Austin, shared his thoughts on social media regarding the decision facing President Joe Biden – whether to close the border or halt the government’s operations. Roy, who belongs to the far-right faction of Republicans involved in negotiating the continuing resolution, expressed his stance.
However, another rebellion emerged within the House Republican conference, blocking the passage of a continuing resolution. A group of ultraconservative members, including U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida, declined to support any temporary solution and instead prioritized passing individual appropriations bills, even if it results in a government shutdown. Gaetz has even gone as far as threatening to initiate a vote to remove McCarthy as speaker using a procedural maneuver if his demands are not met.
McCarthy finds himself in a dilemma where he must decide between persisting in appeasing his staunch conservative supporters, resulting in the inevitable demise of any proposed bills in the Democratic-controlled Senate, or seeking assistance from Democrats to ensure the smooth functioning of the government.
According to Casar, McCarthy has essentially relinquished his power to the most radical Republicans, who are leading us towards a shutdown.
Stephen Simpson contributed reporting.
