Without congressional action next week, budgetary funding for parts of the federal government, including the departments of Transportation, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs, expires on January 19. Another short-term Continuing Resolution to fund the government will likely be required to avoid a government shutdown. The remaining departments have funding through February 2. As a reminder, the federal fiscal year ended on September 30.
A federal government shutdown may stop, among other programs, discretionary formula grants to municipalities. During past federal shutdowns, a wide range of services were affected, including public assistance programs, closing of national parks, reduction of some food safety programs, reduction in access to some veterans’ programs, and the inability to process federal housing and small business loans. It may also affect FEMA natural disaster clean-up efforts. Last fall, the White House released FAQs during the last lapse in appropriations.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.