Shutdown Risks 750,000 Federal Jobs, Services Cut

The federal government shut down Wednesday after Congress failed to approve spending, with Democrats holding firm on funding health-care subsidies and Republicans and the White House refusing to concede, leaving no immediate endgame. The White House warned of mass layoffs and said about 750,000 federal workers could face furloughs or potential firing if the shutdown persists, a warning echoed by Vice President J.D. Vance. Many services will continue in reduced form—U.S. Postal Service, Social Security/Medicare, Medicaid and SNAP (through at least year’s end), veterans’ benefits, courts (funded through Oct. 17), military operations, and weather warnings—but staffing, response times and visitor services (national parks, passport processing) will be limited and air traffic controllers and TSA will work without pay. Huntsville, a city reliant on federal work, is bracing: Redstone Arsenal remains open for now, but small contractors are especially vulnerable to unpaid lost time despite a law requiring back pay for furloughed federal employees. Lawmakers paused some action for the Yom Kippur holiday with the Senate not voting Thursday (voting to resume Friday), and markets predict the shutdown could persist into late October as political leaders trade blame and no new talks are scheduled.