Politics & Government

Government Shutdown: What to Expect in Orange County

The federal government will run out of money at midnight Monday unless Congress votes to continue funding. Here's a list of how different agencies and departments would be affected.

As Congress continues to spar over budgets and the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, the federal government is set to run out of money at midnight Monday.

Here's list of how Orange County residents would be affected, based on official contingency plans and media reports.

Military – Active duty personnel are set to receive their regular paychecks on Tuesday, but subsequent payments may be delayed. Civilian employees will likely be furloughed. Congress may act to pay military personnel in the event of a shutdown.

Border Patrol – The Border Patrol would remain on the job, but staff may not be paid on schedule.

FBI – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is considered essential and will continue to operate, but staff might not be paid on schedule.

Airports – Air traffic control and security screening at John Wayne International would continue, but staff might not be paid on schedule.

Social Security -- Payments will continue as scheduled, but applications for new benefits may be delayed.

Medicare -- Medical treatment will continue, but applications for new benefits and payments to doctors may be delayed.

Courts – The federal courts in Santa Ana have funding for approximately two weeks of operation.

Weather Forecasts – The employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are considered essential and will stay at work.

National Parks – All national parks and the museums of the Smithsonian Institute will close.

Energy – Employees of the Department of Energy who oversee the nation's nuclear arsenal and power plants like the San Onofre Nuclear Generating station would stay at work.

Environment – The Environmental Protection Agency will essentially shut down.

NASA – The space agency would furlough most employees and stop work on most space-related activities, according to Space.com.

IRS – The Internal Revenue Service will furlough most staff and cease audits, examinations of returns, processing of paper returns, and answering questions for taxpayers.

U.S. Mail – The Postal Service is self-supporting and will continue to operate.

Do you have a question or concern about a shutdown or Obamacare and want to contact your elected leaders? Coastal and south Orange County is represented by Republican Congressmen Darrell Issa, Dana Rohrabacher and John Campbell, and by Democratic Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.


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