The federal government could shutdown soon. How it could impact Memphis & Shelby County

Brooke Muckerman and Allie Feinberg, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·4 min read
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With a federal government shutdown looming, next week could look very different for many Memphians. The U.S. government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 1 if lawmakers don't pass a continuing resolution or a federal budget by Sept. 30.

While you will still be able to travel via plane and mail services via the U.S. Postal Service will still run, wait times for travel will be longer than normal. Some federal workers will still be required to work and receive backpay when Congress passes funding legislation. Other federal workers will be without work, and without pay, until legislators in Washington come to a consensus.

In Memphis, some federal operations will still be in operation, but workers will not receive pay until funding legislation is passed. Working without pay could impact Memphians who are federal workers more than in other cities due to the high rate of cost-burdened individuals.

According to a 2020 report by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, 55% of Memphis renters are cost-burdened, meaning more than 30% of their household income is used for housing. Also, 29% of Memphians are classified as “severely” cost-burdened and pay more than 50% of their income on housing.

The US Capitol is seen during a government shutdown in Washington, DC, December 27, 2018. - Congress members trickled back into Washington but there was little hope of ending the government shutdown sparked by a row with President Donald Trump over his demand for US-Mexico border wall construction. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: US govern ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1BU83D

Here is how the possible government shutdown could impact Memphis and Shelby County residents.

Airport wait times could be longer

The Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection funding from the federal government would be on hold. The workers for the FAA, TSA and CBP would work without pay during the shutdown as they are considered essential workers.

"The vast majority of our members are required to work without pay throughout the duration of a shutdown, including mandatory overtime, while others are furloughed," the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a release.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said the FAA already is facing an air traffic controller shortage, and a shutdown would exacerbate the problem.

During the most recent government shutdown, it took about two weeks for airport workers to stop showing up to work. If a shutdown happens, travelers over time would likely see the effects in the form of longer lines and more delays.

What was the longest gov't shutdown: See how long each past shutdown lasted.

Will TVA be impacted?

The Tennessee Valley Authority provides electricity for 153 local power companies across Tennessee and surrounding states as well as federal facilities. But because it isn't directly funded by taxpayer dollars, it won't be affected by the shutdown.

"TVA is funded almost exclusively from the sales of electricity with no federal appropriations," Tom Satkowiak, TVA's senior communications consultant, told Knox News in an email. "In the case of a federal government shutdown, operations at TVA would not be impacted."

WIC and SNAP benefits affected

Because the Federal Government funds WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children − payments would stop immediately. As for SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the program is also funded by the federal government, but it will remain intact through October.

Head Start preschool programs will also be impacted as they receive local grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Social Security checks will still be mailed out, and Medicare benefits will not be impacted. But the federal workers who work for those agencies will go without pay during the shutdown.

How will local governments be impacted?

Local governments will largely go unharmed by a shutdown. Local governments raise funds themselves through local taxes and pass their own budget, they also use federal grant money to fill in the gaps.

According to the National League of Cities, local governments use federal grants to fund public safety initiatives. If a shutdown occurs, processing of grant applications and distribution of funds could be delayed.

More: What happens during a government shutdown and how Tennessee could be impacted

VA Hospital workers furloughed

While the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is considered essential, workers will be furloughed and go without pay. Workers at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis will still be expected to go to work, and VA benefits are still accessible.

USA Today contributed to this reporting.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at 901-484-6225, brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How a 2023 federal government shutdown could impact the Mid-South