Federal Departments Lay Out Plans In The Event Of A Government Shutdown
The New York Times reports: “With the possibility of a government shutdown looming, Obama administration officials raced Wednesday to identify essential government services that would have to be provided if the government ran out of money. Agency officials were revising their plans by the hour, trying to take account of legal requirements, political imperatives and pressure from federal employee unions demanding more information.”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama and Biden will meet for lunch at 12:30 p.m. ET. Obama will meet at 2 p.m. ET with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Obama will meet at 3:45 p.m. ET with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, and the two will deliver statements to the press at 4:20 p.m. ET.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will attend President Obama’s daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET. Obama and Biden will meet for lunch at 12:30 p.m. ET. Afterwards, Biden will meet with Budget Director Jacob Lew, National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, and senior advisers to discuss the budget. At 2:15 p.m. ET, he will meet with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Shutdown could roil housing market
Politico reports: “In the event of a shutdown, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing Administration — which insures and guarantees a large number of single-family mortgages and even more rental and multifamily properties — would cease operations. A shutdown of just a few days would cause some inconvenience and delay to FHA mortgage applicants looking to close on a new house — as well as private lenders unsure of whether to approve loans that normally need to be endorsed by the federal government.”
Government Shutdown Prompts Federal Worker Protests
The Washington Post reports: “Federal employees are taking their concerns about a government shutdown to the streets this week in a series of rallies across the country…Though most of the focus is on how a federal shutdown could impact workers and operations in Washington, D.C., remember that about 85 percent of all federal employees live and work beyond the Beltway.”
Members Prepare to Lose Perks
Roll Call reports: “If the government shuts down Friday, Senators would have to push their own buttons to take an elevator from the basement to the chamber and House Members would not be able to pump iron or shower at the Members-only gym, which would be closed.”
