In the first sign that the White House is getting serious about the far-reaching effects a prolonged shutdown will have on agencies across the federal government, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney requested a list of those programs that will suffer most from continued lack of funding.
According to a Wednesday Washington Post report, Mulvaney will soon learn that hurt is coming, in ways small and large, to a host of government programs if the government doesn’t reopen soon.
Possibly topping the list is food stamps: the Department of Agriculture will run out of money to provide this critical means of nutrition to 40 million people after February 1. Meanwhile, aviation officials are warning of a systemic breakdown; the GSA won’t be able to fulfill government contracts and leases; national parks can’t hire additional employees for the upcoming busy season.
Some agencies can’t even foresee all of the possible issues they’ll face as the historically long shutdown drags on.
