Independence Hall closes as shutdown hits Philly: Here’s what we know

The U.S. government shut down early Wednesday morning, as President Donald Trump and Congress did not reach a short-term agreement on how to keep government programs and services running. 

That’s a big deal for city residents, including the more than 32,000 federal employees who live here. Many government services will be impacted, meaning anything from closures and employee layoffs in some sectors to service interruptions or working without pay.

Trump’s budget office released a letter on Wednesday morning, telling affected agencies that they should “now execute their plans” and that employees should come into work Wednesday to “undertake orderly shutdown activities.” 

Wondering how this will affect you? Here is what we know so far about how the shutdown will affect the city, the region, and the various agencies, industries and services you rely on. 

Parks 

There wasn’t a lot of clarity in the leadup to the impasse, but the news came Wednesday morning — Philly’s Independence National Historical Park, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, will be closed for the duration of the shutdown. 

The Interior Department, which oversees the National Park Service, is planning to keep park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials open during the shutdown. But areas that require staffing, such as visitor centers and park sites like those in Old City, will remain closed. 

The National Park Service manages and operates the entire Independence National Historical Park – meaning this guidance applies to the home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. 

This plan will also furlough over half of the National Park Service staff while the shutdown persists. Additionally, there are concerns for permanent layoffs. Although it is still unclear which jobs the government intends to cut permanently, Ed Welch, who leads the union representing Independence Park employees, expressed concerns, saying the Trump administration has been threatening layoffs in the middle of a shutdown. Union leaders and park advocates say further job cuts would be “devastating,” as the park service is already understaffed and facing low morale. 

So, while some national parks remain partially opened, there are chances for reduced services and less staff – with future concerns for further layoffs and service reductions. 

Travel

The effects the shutdown could have on air travel are more complicated – and depend on how long the shutdown lasts. 

At the moment, air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officials will continue to work, at Philadelphia International Airport and across the country. Other “essential” activities, including on-call accident investigations and safety oversight, will continue as well. But employees who are working during this time will only be paid once the government shutdown ends. 

However, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s contingency plans, over one-quarter of workers are expected to be furloughed. And some activities, such as air traffic performance analysis and other safety supports, will cease during the shutdown. 

Additionally, the shutdown could affect those training to be air traffic controllers and efforts to modernize air traffic equipment. 

While the shutdown will not stop flights or have an immediate effect on air travel, it could lead to consequences the longer it lasts. During the last government shutdown in 2018, nearly 10% of TSA workers called in sick during the 34-day period, increasing screening times. Union leaders and aviation employees expressed concerns that this could happen the longer a shutdown persists. 

Health 

The government shutdown debate hinged on healthcare issues. Senate Democrats voted down a Republican bill late Tuesday night that would have kept funding the government. Democrats argued Republicans were not properly negotiating an extension of expanded Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire at the end of the year. 

Proponents of these tax credits argue these will keep healthcare more affordable. Democrats vowed not to pass a short-term funding measure by Republicans that would prevent a government shutdown if it does not properly cede to their healthcare requests. 

With the shutdown now in effect, healthcare services vary. Medicare and Medicaid health programs are expected to continue, although there will likely be delays to services. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also furlough more than half of its workers. While they will continue to respond to disease outbreaks, they will be unable to provide the public with health-related information, according to their contingency plan. They will also be unable to provide state and local health departments with guidance on programs dealing with opioid overdose prevention, HIV prevention and diabetes prevention. 

The Food and Drug Administration will continue most of its core responsibilities — including managing product recalls, regulating human and animal drugs, managing threats to safety of human life, and responding to foodborne illness and infectious diseases. The agency will keep on about 86% of its staff, according to its contingency plan.

Security and immigration 

Most Department of Homeland Security workers will continue to work. Only about 14,000 of over 270,000 employees will be furloughed, according to a contingency plan on their website. Most employees from ICE, TSA, Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will remain on duty. 

However, certain U.S. military employees are now working without pay. In past government shutdowns, Congress has made sure active duty members continue to get paid.  But currently, there are no plans in place for funding for active duty and reserve  military members. 

Other services

The Department of Education will continue to disperse federal student aid such as Pell grants and Federal Direct Student loans during the shutdown. Student loan payments will also be due. 

However, the shutdown will furlough about 87% of the department’s employees, leading to further cuts, and extension of President Trump’s efforts to sizably cut the Department of Education workforce during his administration. Services that won’t continue during the shutdown include issuing new federal grants and investigations into civil rights complaints. 

The Environmental Protection Agency will furlough about 90% of its employees during the shutdown. While immediate environmental hazard work, such as protecting EPA sites, will continue, most longer-term work like research and permitting will cease, according to a memo from the organization.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Pennsylvania is funded through October, Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh confirmed Wednesday, but benefits could run out after that should the shutdown continue.

Social Security and the U.S. Postal Service operations are considered essential and will run as usual. The Postal Service is an independent entity and its operating funds do not come through the affected federal channels.

Federal workers

A few things to know about federal workers in Pennsylvania who might be furloughed:

• They will retain their health insurance even if furloughed, according to the government’s Office of Personnel Management, which serves as its human resource agency.
• They can apply for unemployment in Pennsylvania, though it might not be processed before the shutdown ends. Then again, there is no sign at the moment that this will be resolved quickly.
• If history is a guide, they can expect to be paid for the time they were furloughed after the dispute is resolved and the federal government re-opens. What would happen to federal workers who are fired permanently, as the president has threatened, is unclear.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

The post Independence Hall closes as shutdown hits Philly: Here’s what we know appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.