Thousands of Floridians would go without pay if government shuts down. Here's what to know
Divided House Republicans are struggling to agree on spending legislation that could lead to a government shutdown that could temporarily put thousands of Americans out of work and stop government benefits.
Congress has until the next fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1, to pass necessary spending legislation to prevent a shutdown. If an agreement can’t be made and the legislation fails to pass, “essential” government workers will be forced to remain on the job without pay while hundreds of thousands of other federal workers are furloughed.
The last government shutdown was during the Trump administration and stretched for 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019.
Here’s what would be impacted if the government shuts down.
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Nearly 65k military personnel in Florida could be impacted if the government shuts down
When the government shuts down, the two million active service members remain at their posts but about half of its civilian workforce will be furloughed. Active-duty troops won’t be paid while they are furloughed, but they will be repaid once the government reopens.
Contracts awarded before the shutdown will continue, according to Reuters, and new orders for supplies can be placed to address national security. Federal contractors impacted by the shutdown won’t be compensated for missed time.
Florida had 64,318 active duty military personnel in 2021, according to the latest military demographics report. It has the sixth highest number of active duty personnel in the country. More than a half of all active duty service members are located in just six states: California (157,639), Virginia (126,529), Texas (116,970), North Carolina (99,135) Georgia (69,391) and Florida (64,318).
What about the Blue Angels?
What happens to the Blue Angels will depend on decisions from military leaders. During the 2013 government shutdown, the U.S. Navy decided to ground the Blue Angels for the remainder of its 2013 show season.
How are national parks impacted during a government shutdown?
The National Parks Service is almost entirely funded by congressionally appropriated funds, but there are no clear rules or laws that require parks to close during a shutdown.
The government has received considerable backlash during the past two shutdowns with decisions to both close parks (2013) and keep them open (2018). Exactly how national parks could be impacted if the government shuts down this time is unclear.
How likely is a government shutdown? How likely is a government shutdown and who will be affected? What you need to know.
What happens to Social Security and Medicare during a government shutdown?
The Social Security Administration will continue issuing retirement and disability benefits, according to Reuters. Medicare and Medicaid payments will similarly continue.
However, some people may not be able to obtain new Medicare cards until federal funding resumes.
Is the U.S. Postal Service impacted during a government shutdown?
No, the post office doesn’t depend on congressional funding.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Would government shutdown impact Florida? Yes, here's how
