How a Government Shutdown Impacts Central Washington

As we barrel towards a government shutdown due to Senate Democrats' refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), essential programs and services here in Central Washington are now at risk. Congress has the responsibility under our Constitution to fund the federal government, and allowing a shutdown is a disservice to the American people.

If the government shuts down, farmers and ranchers in the Methow and Yakima Valleys will lose access to Farm Service Agency employees due to furlough. Farm operating loans, conservation and crop disaster programs will be impacted and paused for the duration of a shutdown. Additionally, funding for agriculture research grants through the Agriculture Research Service, which WSU Prosser relies on, could be paused indefinity.

For small businesses in the Tri-Cities, a government shutdown would mean a stop on new small business loans and investments. Access to Small Businesses Administration financing would be put on hold, and any businesses undergoing expansion would be impacted. Congress passed historic pro-small business laws in the Working Families Tax Cuts that are set to take effect this year, and a government shutdown would impede small business' ability to take advantage of those policies.

Veterans in Central Washington, including those seeking counseling or treatment, can expect to see their regional offices closed during a shutdown. Even call center hotlines will not be staffed, which could have dire consequences for veterans struggling with mental health issues from their time in the service. With veterans' resources already straining in our region, veterans would lose access to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and career counseling, resulting in a backlog of requests for when the shutdown ends.

Visitors of public lands, including the Gifford-Pinchot and Okanogan National Forests and the North Cascades National Park, will also feel the impact of a shutdown with management and maintenance suspended, and even potential full closures of parks. While the Bureau of Reclamation is expected to continue generating water and power, processing of special use permits and certain project management actions will be paused, negatively impacting irrigators within the Columbia River Basin.

The blame for a government shutdown will fall on Senate Democrats, who are threatening essential services for partisan demands that do not belong in government funding negotiations. The House of Representatives, with my support, passed a clean, short-term, bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the government open until November 21 so we can negotiate a funding agreement for fiscal year 2025. The Senate must do the same.