This message was displayed as both a pop-up and the headline of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as of Tuesday, Sept. 30. A potential government shutdown could impact many in the Philadelphia region. Melissa Finley
With a federal government deadline looming, Congress has only a matter of hours to agree upon a funding plan before a potential government shutdown impacts the entire country. As it stands, Democrats and Republicans disagree on how to move forward, causing a stalemate in decisions. Multiple sources report that funding for the Affordable Care Act remains the sticking point on both sides of the aisle.
Without a plan in place, a shutdown is likely on Wednesday, Oct. 1. According to reports, there have been 14 total shutdowns since 1980, with the most recent occurring in 2018. That shutdown lasted 34 total days.
What is a government shutdown?
When the government cannot agree on funding, facets of its programs, nationwide, will have to postpone operations. Typically, those that have already received funding for operations may be able to continue, while others cannot. While none of the 12 appropriation bills have passed this year, some entities were funded via the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July.
It is the Constitution itself that outlines the spending of federal dollars. It says that the Treasury Department cannot spend money without a law passing to authorize such spending.
“Under a statute known as the Antideficiency Act, agencies are required to cease operations — with certain exceptions — in the absence of funding authorized by Congress,” explained CBS News. “The act, a version of which first passed in 1870, with several significant updates since, also prohibits the government from entering into financial obligations without congressional sign-off.”
Typically, a government shutdown means stopping the operations that are considered “non-essential.” The Antideficiency Act outlined the “essential” roles as those necessary to keep the nation functioning and “protect life and property.” For example, those essential employees may include:
Even essential workers, however, may not be paid during the shutdown. Typically employees can be furloughed, have a position eliminated, or continue working. Pay will come in the form of “backpay” after Congress passes an agreed-upon spending bill.
Who is affected locally?
Local functions of offices such as Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other similar benefits will continue to be open and operate to serve those that require their services. Additionally, benefits will continue to be paid out as they are approved with permanent appropriations, which do not require the annual Congressional updated approvals.
The U.S. Postal service is self-funded, and also does not require any appropriation approvals for its functions. It will continue operations as normal. Some travel delays could occur if TSA employees or air-traffic controllers, who are deemed essential, refuse to attend work hours due to lack of pay.
National parks were impacted in 2018, as the furloughing of employees brought about suspensions in services and increased vandalism. Locally, those might include the closures or limited services at:
as well as a variety of national historic sites throughout the area.
Local employees impacted by a government shutdown
According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, approximately 4,874 workers in Montgomery County are employed by the federal government, making up 10.62% of the county’s workforce. (July 2025 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimate Montgomery County to have 45,903 employed persons within its borders.)
Pennsylvania boasts 90,519 federal workers overall, but Montgomery County has the third-most federal workers, lower only than Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) and Philadelphia. Bucks County is estimated to have around 2,911 federally employed workers.
Calls from the Fideri News Network to a variety of area federal offices were not returned prior to deadline. Many anonymous sources noted they were not permitted to speak to the press directly.
SNAP, WIC disruptions
While both are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the ways in which programs such as WIC and SNAP may be impacted vary. SNAP, known for providing food assistance for low-income families, typically provides food funding a month ahead. Impacts to its program could be felt by local families as soon as October.
WIC, or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, has had recent restructuring in 2023 and 2024 in order to provide more leeway of its funding should it face a government shutdown. Reports state that, while the program will be able to continue aid short-term, if a shutdown drags on, the USDA would need to pivot to seek funding.
According to a 2024 study, 62,700 Montgomery County residents depend on SNAP benefits. The figure is reportedly triple the amount from 2004. In Bucks County, 40,764 utilize the program, while in Philadelphia County, 474,962 individuals receive SNAP benefits.
Around 5,998 Montgomery County residents claimed WIC benefits in July of 2025. In Bucks County, 4,294 depended on WIC. In Philadelphia County, 38,541 residents rely on WIC funds.
