What would a government shutdown mean to Springfield and Illinois? Here's what we know

Still needing to pass a dozen spending bills by Saturday, a federal government shutdown could be imminent causing the furlough of hundreds of thousands and affecting services throughout the country.

Leaders in the U.S. Senate reached a deal Tuesday with a stop-gap measure, funding government operations through Nov. 17. The issue however lies in the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a far-right contingency of his party are at a stalemate in negotiations.

The group, encouraged by former President Donald Trump, includes U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, who is requesting major federal spending cuts and to stop providing funds to Ukraine.

"I oppose sending money to Ukraine that will be stolen by Ukrainian oligarchs in a proxy war that we were dragged into because Ukraine was paying the Biden family $1 million a year in cash," Miller posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We should be securing our southern border instead!"

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, alternatively joined fellow freshman Democrats in requesting GOP leadership to include President Joe Biden's spending priorities if they want bipartisan support.

The shutdown will impact federal employees across the country, some of which will be furloughed and others could be forced to work without pay. An estimated 7,200 civilians in Illinois Congressional District 13, where Budzinski serves, were employed by the federal government as of 2022 according to the Congressional Research Service.

The impact extends beyond federal employees but also to those who rely on federal services, Budzinski noted, mainly senior citizens and veterans. Now is the time for McCarthy to step up and honor the bipartisan agreement reached in the debt ceiling debate, she said.

"Right now, the House is struggling with a Speaker who is more interested in keeping his job than standing up to the Chaos Caucus," she said in a phone interview Tuesday.

Here's how the looming shutdown will impact Springfield.

What does the government shutdown mean for Social Security, Medicare?

The nearly 250,000 Illinoisans receiving social security benefits will still receive them during a shutdown, as its operation is considered essential by the federal government. Those receiving Medicare, Medicaid and military veterans' benefits also will be unaffected.

Also remaining open will be the Social Security field offices and call center. Still, services could be delayed as the Social Security Administration would furlough some employees over the course of a shutdown.

Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children will be impacted according to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. WIC benefits will end immediately once a shutdown begins, while SNAP benefits will continue through the end of October.

As of fiscal year 2022, more than 155,000 Illinoisans receive WIC benefits, intended for low-income women and children under the age of five. The Illinois Department of Human Services administers the program in the state but is funded by the USDA.

Will the Lincoln Home be open?

If the federal government does shut down, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site will be closed for the duration volunteer manager Jasmine Leung confirmed.

No tours of the home will be led by National Park Service rangers, but Leung said details are still being gathered as to whether the site's parking lot or the neighborhood surrounding the Lincoln home will remain open.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Lincoln Tomb are owned and operated by the state, so neither will be impacted by a federal shutdown.

Will mail, IRS offices close?

The U.S. Postal Service is independent from the federal government, so mail delivery will continue. Offices will not close during the shutdown.

The Internal Revenue Service also will remain open.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Federal government shutdown looms, here's how it could impact Illinois