The Social Security Administration office, along with federal court services in San Angelo will most likely be open tomorrow morning, despite the impending government holiday.
At midnight, the United States Federal Government will “shutdown” after lawmakers failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund federal services.
The Social Security Administration issued a contingency plan early this month, wherein the agency said about 45,000 employees would remain on the job in the event of a shutdown, although roughly 6,200 workers would be furloughed.
Services expected to cease in the event of a shutdown include benefit verifications, earnings-record corrections and updates, payee accountings, requests from third parties, Freedom of Information Act requests, IT enhancement activities, public relations and training, issuing replacement Medicare cards, and overpayments processing.
GOODFELLOW AFB
Essential functions for Goodfellow’s core missions of national defense and critical training would not be affected, but non-essential services dependent on appropriated funds will likely be suspended, and some healthcare options may not be available.
Civilian personnel deemed “non-essential” are typically furloughed without pay. Under a 2019 law, they are guaranteed back pay, but must go without income during the shutdown.
Federal contractors, including many on-base workers, are not legally entitled to back pay for the work they miss.
They are also not required to work during a shutdown.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS
Federal courts will also likely continue services for the next few weeks.
According to the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke University School of Law:
“Unlike executive branch agencies, the federal courts can continue operations for about two weeks following a government shutdown. When a shutdown loomed in September 2019, the U.S. federal courts confirmed they could use reserve or carryover funds accumulated from various revenue sources not dependent on Congress, such as case filing fees.”
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services field office and the US Consolidated Farm Services Agency both stated that they were unsure if they will be open come Wednesday morning.
Reports from Washington indicates the Trump administration is currently threatening to simply let go of large swaths of the Federal workforce if an agreement could not be met. The process ground to a halt after Democrats pushed for a repeal of Medicaid cuts authorized in the Reconciliation bill earlier this year.
From the OMB memo:
“With respect to those Federal programs whose funding would lapse and which are otherwise unfunded, such programs are no longer statutorily required to be carried out.”
“Once fiscal year 2026 appropriations are enacted, agencies should revise their RIFs as needed to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions.”
After the house passed its continuing resolution, Senate Democrats objected to the cuts in Medicaid funding. Congress was adjourned.
The only directive from the OMB being to “retain the minimal number of employees” implies mass layoffs soon for Federal employees. We will continue to update this story as it develops.
