Shutdown could have direct impact in Yuma County

Departments of homeland Security, defense among agencies potentially impacted without congressional action

If you read any of the latest Congressional updates on the budget and felt a strong sense of deja vu, you aren’t alone. We’re right there with you.

CNN reported on Monday, “Lawmakers are scrambling to avert a partial shutdown ahead of a federal government funding deadline at the end of the week.” Again?

Congress passed a series of bills earlier this month to fund some government agencies for the rest of the fiscal year, CNN notes, but funding bills for the balance have not yet been released … and on Monday, there were just five days left before the deadline.

What happens if they don’t reach an agreement? It’s that awful phrase we hear bandied about: “partial government shutdown.”

And this time, it’s a possible shutdown we find to be especially concerning. On this list to still be funded? The Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State and the legislative branch, CNN reports.

With two military bases located here and an extensive swath of the U.S. border running through Yuma County, that list is indeed concerning.

CNN reports the Department of Homeland Security issue has been particularly challenging, as debate continues over border policy.

USA Today, meanwhile, notes that lawmakers were hoping to release legislation on March 17, but missed that window.

So what happens in a partial government shutdown? USA Today notes that thousands of federal employees will be furloughed.

Essential federal workers will work without pay, but they will receive back pay once the shutdown ends. Essential workers generally include law enforcement and border protection staff.

A Fact Sheet released by the Department of Homeland Security in September 2023 notes that if the government shut down, 72% of the DHS workforce would be required to work without pay. That means over 19,000 unpaid U.S. Border Patrol agents and 25,000 unpaid Office of Field Operations Officers across the country.

“CBP agents and officers working at over 300 ports of entry and protecting more than 6,000 miles of border under challenging circumstances would be required to continue performing their vital missions without pay,” DHS noted.

And there’s a secondary impact many might not realize.

“DHS provided over $770 million this year to support border & interior communities to cover costs associated with sheltering migrants in their cities. Recipients may be unable to draw down on a portion of the funds, and no new awards will be made under a shutdown,” DHS’ fact sheet notes.

Readers, it’s easy to turn a blind eye on Congress and the threat of a looming shutdown, but the reality is, this has the potential to directly impact Yuma County and countless other communities, and it’s simply not acceptable.

In the world today, it appears we can rely on a few things: the sun will always rise, the sun will always set … and this Congress will always delay until the last possible minute to take serious action on resolving budget priorities, regardless of the impact on its constituents.

Unsigned editorials represent the viewpoint of this newspaper rather than an individual. Columns and letters to the editor represent the viewpoints of the persons writing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the Yuma Sun.