🛑 Government funding runs out at midnight
💸 Local base workers face furloughs, delayed pay
🌴 Parks, airports, and Coast Guard hit hard
NICEVILLE — At 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, the United States Federal Government will run out of money, forcing thousands of federal workers across the country, including those in Northwest Florida, to feel the impacts.
Here is what you need to know.
The U.S. federal government is headed toward a shutdown because Congress has failed to pass a short-term funding (continuing resolution) bill ahead of the new fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1.
The crux of the disagreement centers on healthcare funding—especially extensions of tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans—and Medicaid cuts.
Democratic lawmakers are refusing to support the Republican proposed funding measure unless the Republicans agree to continue or restore those healthcare provisions.
Republicans, in turn, argue that those healthcare changes should be addressed separately and refuse to embed them in the stopgap funding bill.
Complicating matters is the Senate’s requirement of 60 votes (a supermajority) to pass most spending bills.
Although Republicans control both the House and Senate, they do not have 60 votes in the Senate on their own, so they need some Democratic support to pass the continuing resolution.
The last time the federal government was in operation was from Dec. 22, 2018, to Jan. 25, 2019, when President Donald Trump requested $5.7 billion in federal funds to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Democrats, who just won control of the U.S. House of Representatives, refused to approve funding, saying it was too costly and ineffective.
The 35-day shutdown affected nearly 800,000 federal workers who were either furloughed or worked without pay.
On Jan. 25, a temporary funding bill passed without wall funding, providing the government with three weeks of funding.
While active-duty service members at Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field would continue their missions, paychecks could be delayed. The sharper hit would fall on the civilian employees and contractors who keep the bases running day-to-day.
At Hurlburt Field, there are roughly 1,787 civilian employees and more than 2,100 contractors on the books. At Eglin, about 4,000 civilian workers and nearly 3,000 contractors are employed. Duke Field supports approximately one hundred civilian and contractor staff.
During a shutdown, federal rules categorize civilian jobs as either “essential” or “nonessential.” Essential personnel must continue working, often without immediate pay, while nonessential staff are furloughed, meaning they are sent home until funding is restored.
Contractors, meanwhile, can see their work paused or canceled depending on how their projects are funded.
That number represents a significant share of the local workforce — and an economic impact felt well beyond the gates.
A federal government shutdown would ripple far beyond the gates of Eglin, Hurlburt, and Duke Field.
Federal employees across the Panhandle, including TSA agents and air traffic controllers at Destin–Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola airports, would likely be required to work without pay until funding is restored.
National Park Service rangers at Gulf Islands National Seashore may be furloughed, which will result in the closure of national parks.
The Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, would continue operations but without paychecks for its personnel.
Also being sidelined for a time will be the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, who were scheduled to participate in San Francisco Fleet Week on Oct. 13.
If the government shuts down, your guess will be as good as ours.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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