NEW YORK—Only essential government employees will be at work Tuesday after failed congressional negotiations Monday night resulted in the first government shutdown in 17 years.
Air traffic control and mail delivery will continue, reports AFP. National parks and museums will be closed, disappointing some Americans and visitors who have planned trips to the Grand Canyon and other sites.
Alan and Leana Platt have long anticipated their three-day trip to the Grand Canyon, but now they will have to see it from a privately run helicopter instead of on foot or by ground transportation. The Canyon attracts about 18,000 visitors daily in October when temperatures are optimal and leaves are changing color along the drive.
The Statue of Liberty will be shut, reports AFP.
The shutdown of national parks alone will cost local economies a combined $76 million daily, according to National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst.
Social Security checks will still be mailed, reports the Washington Post. The Post lists off other essential services that will remain in operation. All employees will work without pay.
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Veterans’ hospitals will stay open. The U.S. military will continue operations, as will embassies abroad and other offices deemed essential for maintaining national security and foreign relations.
Emergency medical care employees, border patrol, prison workers, essential federal law enforcement employees, banking system overseers, and employees operating the power grid will all continue work, reports the Post. Unemployment insurance offices will remain operational, and food stamps will still be available.
Members of Congress will stay, because their pay is not governed under the same budget under dispute.
Many non-essential government workers (the newly preferred term is “non-excepted”) will work a half-day to tie up lose ends, including changing their voicemail messages to leave a notice that they will be off work indefinitely.
Some 800,000 government employees overall will be affected.
A Quinnipiac University poll released early Tuesday shows 72 percent of Americans oppose a government shutdown as a means to fighting Obamacare.
How the Shutdown Affects New York City
Food
School lunches will continue to be served. Food stamp benefits are also unaffected, but there are no more funds for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Mail
Post offices will continue to operate as usual.
Travel
Air traffic controllers, airport security, and board control agents are considered essential workers and will continue working.
Benefits
Because Social Security benefits are not subject to appropriation, checks will continue to go out. Medicaid and Medicare services are not immediately affected, but could be if the shutdown protracts beyond two weeks. Unemployment benefit payments are expected to continue.
Veterans
Call centers, hotlines, and regional offices are shut down. Benefits could discontinue in case of extended shutdown.
Parks
The Statue of Liberty was closed immediately upon government shutdown. All national parks and national monuments in New York are closed as well.
Courts
Federal courts remain open for at least 10 days. The judiciary will reassess the situation on or around Oct. 15.
Prisons
Prisons are open and prison guards continue work as usual.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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