(NEXSTAR) – It’s looking increasingly likely that a government shutdown is imminent, with lawmakers from both parties saying they have no intentions to negotiate on funding legislation ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline.
“If it has to shut down, it’ll have to shut down,” President Trump said Friday, blaming Democrats for any lapses in funding.
Democrats, meanwhile, say the GOP is refusing to come to the table on what they view as key healthcare issues, including extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and rescinding cuts to Medicaid.
“We want to find a bipartisan path forward and reach a spending agreement with our Republican colleagues that actually meets the needs of the American people, but that also addresses the Republican health care crisis that is harming everyday Americans all across the country,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), said during an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week.”
If the government indeed shuts down on Wednesday, it would mean the temporary closure of certain government offices and the possible furlough (or worse) of thousands of federal workers. But some agencies and services are still considered essential, and would remain operational during a shutdown.
Will Social Security payments be affected?
The Social Security Administration generally continues operations during a government shutdown. This is because the SSA is funded through mandatory government spending, unlike other programs that require renewal for discretionary funds.
The agency will, however, be operating with a reduced workforce. In a contingency planning document made available by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Finance and Management, the SSA said more than 6,100 of the agency’s nearly 52,000 workers would be furloughed.
Despite this, the SSA expects to provide benefits for Social Security recipients as usual.
“We will continue activities critical to our direct-service operations and those needed to ensureaccurate and timely payment of benefits,” a portion of the document reads.
Other services funded through mandatory spending — and will therefore continue during a shutdown — include Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans Affairs payments.
These agencies may not be totally immune to interruptions that may affect beneficiaries, though. The Hill previously reported that cutbacks in staffing could result in delays in terms of customer service, and The New York Times added that Medicare recipients in need of replacement cards may not be able to get any until the government shutdown is over.
In a larger sense, there could also be future repercussions for the government workforce — and perhaps the people they serve — if a government shutdown were to occur this week. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) indicated in a memo last week that agencies with furloughed workers should “use this opportunity to consider reduction in force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects, or activities.”
Democrats have said that this directive doesn’t get them any closer to voting for a Republican spending bill.
“We will not be intimidated by these threats coming from the most extreme parts of the Trump Administration,” Jeffries said last week.
Jeffries is scheduled to attend a meeting on Monday at the White House along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and House Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss the spending bill.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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