Federal shutdown looming

 NY Times - A shutdown will occur next week unless Congress and the White House can strike a deal before midnight on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Absent a last-minute compromise, federal funding is set to lapse, carrying wide-ranging implications that underscore the myriad ways that Washington touches Americans’ daily lives.

Historically, these interruptions have shuttered national parks and museums, halted some federal food safety inspections and cut off services to small businesses, preventing them from obtaining some government loans or permits. A shutdown does not affect Social Security or Medicare, but it has previously prevented older Americans from having access to some related services, like obtaining new benefit cards.

This year, the loss of funding could also disrupt the federal Women, Infants and Children program, which helps provide groceries to low-income families. The initiative would not have enough money left to accept new applicants starting Oct. 1, according to a White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal budget documents. The administration previously asked Congress to approve additional funds for the benefits, known as W.I.C.

For millions of federal workers, a shutdown carries direct hardships, especially if it is prolonged. These employees, including military personnel, are deprived of their pay while funding is in jeopardy, though some are forced to report for duty in the meantime. The law does guarantee that they will receive back pay, but only after Congress can clinch a deal, meaning some could be without steady income for weeks.

The government is no stranger to fast-approaching fiscal deadlines, which can often serve as motivation for Democrats and Republicans to strike a grand bargain. But as of Wednesday, the two sides did not even appear to be talking, raising the odds that a vast swath of Washington could shutter soon for an extended period.