From employees working without pay to historic sites closing, how federal shutdown will be felt in Philly

In a note to *The Philadelphia Tribune*, U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans blames Republicans for not showing urgency in renewing health care subsidies that would expire at year’s end.
—TRIBUNE PHOTO/ALEXIS LOMAX

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks with reporters in Washington before he and the top congressional leaders go to the White House on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump about the looming government funding crisis.
—AP PHOTO/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Historic sites in Philadelphia, such as the President’s House at 6th and Market streets, will be closed if the federal shutdown occurs this week.
—THE NEW YORK TIMES PHOTO/SABINA LOUISE PIERCE

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Congress’ struggle to pass ongoing federal spending legislation could result in a government shutdown Wednesday at midnight. The local effects would go beyond just thousands of furloughed federal employees.

The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution on September 19 that would fund the government through November 21. However, the Senate rejected it later that day. Because the Senate requires 60 votes to end a filibuster, the bill would require bipartisan support to pass.

After a nearly party-line vote in the House to pass the resolution, Democrats and Republicans have bickered publicly over provisions such as funding for certain programs and the removal of aspects of the Affordable Care Act.

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### Impact on Philadelphia

The most conspicuous impact for Philadelphians would be the closing of Independence Mall attractions, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Dave Fitzpatrick, secretary-treasurer for the Association of Federal Government Employees Local Council 270, which represents about 300 workers in Philadelphia, spoke to *The Tribune* on Monday about the broader consequences of a shutdown.

“People don’t realize how much the federal government is part of their world until there’s a shutdown,” Fitzpatrick said. “(People) want to go see a historic site — well, it’s closed. You spent your money, you came to Philadelphia and ‘Sorry folks, we’re closed.’ That’s a real impact, not just on Philadelphia residents, but visitors from all over the world.”

While the National Park Service (NPS) will have to close Independence Mall and other sites, multiple departments and agencies will force essential employees to come in and work without pay.

For those using Veterans Affairs health care services, calling Social Security hotlines, or trying to access a variety of other government programs, Fitzpatrick advised preparing for longer wait times as departments “slow down or shut down.”

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### Federal Workforce Challenges

This would be the second major disruption for Philadelphia-based federal workers this year. Thousands of jobs were uncertain after President Donald Trump fired IRS workers in February. He later offered severance packages to others to shrink the federal workforce in an effort to cut costs.

While many employees have returned to their jobs with back pay, Fitzpatrick said the NPS is down 24% locally due to those buyouts and cuts.

Alex Berman, executive vice president of the National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 71, whose nearly 3,700 members are based at 30th and Chestnut streets in Philadelphia, said many are still uncertain about who will have to report to work Wednesday and who will stay home.

He ties this uncertainty to the politicization of his workplace and efforts to permanently reduce the federal workforce.

“The gamesmanship and brinkmanship being played by our political leaders has unfortunately become status quo, which is no way to run a railroad,” Berman said Monday. “We need to have a working, nonpartisan civil service that works for all Americans, and to continually take us hostage and take the millions upon millions of Americans who depend on the things the American government does for them, is anathema to everything we as federal employees, we as career civil servants, stand for.”

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### Effects on Local Programs

Philadelphia receives a small portion of its city budget from federal money. However, some programs that rely on federal funding may be affected by a shutdown.

Other entities, such as the School District of Philadelphia, would not be directly affected because federal money passes through state and local distributions, a district spokesperson told *The Philadelphia Tribune* on Monday. The district has taken out loans to cover expenses amid the state budget impasse nearing three months.

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### Political Reactions

In a statement to *The Tribune* on Monday, U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans blamed Republicans for not showing urgency in renewing health care subsidies that would expire at year’s end. He also pointed to previous rounds of layoffs and buyouts as efforts by the Trump administration to disrupt the government’s ability to function.

“The Trump administration has already been doing shutdowns throughout the year — through illegal firings and refusals to spend funding as required by law,” Evans said. “Now the Trump administration is threatening even more illegal firings, which would harm both the workers and the people they serve. Democrats are standing up to this bullying.”

“Republicans asked for and got total control of Washington — if they want political cover, they need to make real compromises,” he added. “So far the response from the Trump White House has been ‘go f— yourself.’ The American people deserve better than that, and Democrats are fighting for you.”

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According to an Associated Press report, President Trump has shown little interest in giving in to Democrats’ demands on health care, even as he agreed to hold a sit-down meeting Monday with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Trump has repeatedly said he fully expects the government to shut down this week.

“If it has to shut down, it’ll have to shut down,” Trump said on Friday to *The Associated Press*. “But they’re (Democrats) the ones that are shutting down government.”

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https://www.phillytrib.com/news/elections/from-employees-working-without-pay-to-historic-sites-closing-how-federal-shutdown-will-be-felt/article_7d0738a2-63ca-4210-81ea-fbf20cac8f5c.html

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