As of 12:01 a.m. on October 1, funding for many federal government operations has lapsed. I supported a package passed by the House that would extend current funding until November 21, 2025, but the proposal has yet to pass the Senate.

Despite the shutdown, my office is here to help constituents of Washington's Fourth District with issues they are facing with federal agencies. While many federal agencies may have slower response times and minimal staffing, we can still submit requests and advocate on your behalf. You can submit casework requests on our website here.

How did we get here? 

The U.S. Congress must pass annual appropriations measures in order to fund federal government agencies by September 30, the end of the fiscal year. On September 19, I supported a measure that passed the House of Representatives extending current federal funding until November 21 while we finish our work for the full fiscal year. This was a clean extension of existing funding without any new policies attached. 

Unfortunately, this proposal did not pass the Senate, as Senate Democrats voted against the measure, resulting in a government shutdown. This means that many federal agencies do not currently have the authority to operate. Other programs deemed essential are allowed by law to continue.

What kinds of services will continue? 

While the programs listed below will continue, the agencies responsible for administering them may see reduced workforces impacting operations. This is not a comprehensive list as we are continuing to gather information.

While the programs listed below will continue, the agencies responsible for administering them may see reduced workforces impacting operations. This is not a comprehensive list as we are continuing to gather information.

• Social Security payments, including SSI benefits
• Medicare and Medicaid benefits
  VA medical care and benefits (although some regional offices may be closed)
  SNAP benefits (although a prolonged shutdown could create disruptions)
  Disability payments
  Mail delivery
  Federal law enforcement and military operations
  TSA security screening at airports
  Federal employee retirement payments
  Student aid such as Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans
  Visits to national Smithsonian Museums (until at least Monday, October 6)
  Visa and passport services (although longer wait times are possible)

Resources for Federal Employees 

As agencies shut down, federal employees will either be furloughed, or in some cases required to work without pay. Under federal law, employees are entitled to back pay upon the government reopening. Click the links below to see OPM and Thrift Savings Plan guidance. 

• OPM Operating Status
  OPM Shutdown Furlough Guidance
  Thrift Savings Plan - Lapse in Appropriations

How a Government Shutdown Impacts Central Washington

By Rep. Dan Newhouse

As we barrel towards a government shutdown due to Senate Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), essential programs and services here in Central Washington are now at risk. Congress has the responsibility under our Constitution to fund the federal government, and allowing a shutdown is a disservice to the American people. 

If the government shuts down, farmers and ranchers in the Methow and Yakima Valleys will lose access to Farm Service Agency employees due to furlough. Farm operating loans, conservation and crop disaster programs will be impacted and paused for the duration of a shutdown. Additionally, funding for agriculture research grants through the Agriculture Research Service, which WSU Prosser relies on, could be paused indefinity.

For small businesses in the Tri-Cities, a government shutdown would mean a stop on new small business loans and investments. Access to Small Businesses Administration financing would be put on hold, and any businesses undergoing expansion would be impacted. Congress passed historic pro-small business laws in the Working Families Tax Cuts that are set to take effect this year, and a government shutdown would impede small business’ ability to take advantage of those policies.  

Veterans in Central Washington, including those seeking counseling or treatment, can expect to see their regional offices closed during a shutdown. Even call center hotlines will not be staffed, which could have dire consequences for veterans struggling with mental health issues from their time in the service. With veterans’ resources already straining in our region, veterans would lose access to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and career counseling, resulting in a backlog of requests for when the shutdown ends. 

Visitors of public lands, including the Gifford-Pinchot and Okanogan National Forests and the North Cascades National Park, will also feel the impact of a shutdown with management and maintenance suspended, and even potential full closures of parks. While the Bureau of Reclamation is expected to continue generating water and power, processing of special use permits and certain project management actions will be paused, negatively impacting irrigators within the Columbia River Basin. 

The blame for a government shutdown will fall on Senate Democrats, who are threatening essential services for partisan demands that do not belong in government funding negotiations. The House of Representatives, with my support, passed a clean, short-term, bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the government open until November 21 so we can negotiate a funding agreement for fiscal year 2025. The Senate must do the same. 

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to stop by the construction site of the new Home2Suites coming to the Pasco Airport. 

Tri-Cities is seeing more travelers every year, and the new convention center expansion in the works will bring even more visitors to our part of the state.

The new hotel will help meet the rising demand, and I thank the crew for taking time out of their day to show me around.