Congress fails to fund federal government

Local and state resources affected

As of press time, the Big Horn Basin’s federal offices and federal services across the country have remained closed and suspended since October 1 as the Senate has failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund operations.

The shutdown resulted from a partisan divide as Democrats look to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act set to end this year, with 24 million Americans using the system to buy health plans. KFF, a nonpartisan health research organization, estimated that premiums would go up 114% on average for users without these subsidies. Democrats have also looked to repeal cuts to health care programs made by this summer’s Big Beautiful Bill Act. Republicans say health care issues can be addressed later. 

Republicans have used the point of contention to place the opposing party in the hot seat, and Democrats, who have historically opposed shutdowns, are in an uncomfortable position. 

“Republicans are united in our commitment to reopen the government,” Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said in a statement issued directly following the government shutdown. “How long that takes, and how costly it is, is entirely up to Senate Democrats.”

The last government shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2019 lasted 35 days and reduced the national GDP by an estimated $3 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

An estimated 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed due to the current lapse in funding, with more expected to leave work as backup funding used by various agencies runs out. 

Essential services such as Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, national defense and public safety will remain in place, though new applications, related health services and military readiness may be slowed by the funding lapse over time. Military personnel are not subject to furlough, though civilian employees are. The FAA has reported staffing issues are causing delays in airports, including Denver.

In Wyoming, before DOGE cuts earlier this year, there were an estimated 6,832 federal employees.

According to protocol released by Governor Mark Gordon’s office, Wyoming will continue to fund state employee positions that were fully or partially federally funded during the shutdown and cover gaps in the federal government’s commitments to state employees in the short-term. Should the federal shutdown continue, the state will be forced to look at options including suspending federally funded contracts and programs and furloughing federally funded state employees.

President Trump has instructed federal agencies to prepare for mass firings as the shutdown continues, which would be acting outside standard federal furlough procedures. In a draft White House memo described to multiple national news sources, it has been suggested that federal employees may not be guaranteed back pay for their time on furlough. 

In the header of government websites including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service, a banner blames the “Radical Left Democrat” shutdown for lack of updates.

“President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel and clothe the American people,” the announcement reads, an atypical show of partisanship for government agencies. 

Locally, NRCS, BLM, Forest Service and USDA offices were unable to take calls due to the shutdown. 

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate; both parties would need 60 votes to pass their version of the resolution. On Monday, the Senate failed to pass a resolution for the fifth time, with the Democrats’ bill falling to a 45-50 vote and its Republican counter measure falling 52-42.