Walz warns shutdown could disrupt services; USDA furloughs threaten farmers and SNAP
Gov. Tim Walz warned a prolonged federal shutdown could disrupt key services in Minnesota as congressional negotiations faltered and federal contingency planning ramped up. USDA has furloughed large portions of its workforce—about half overall, roughly 67% at the Farm Service Agency and almost all of Rural Development—leaving local offices closed, hindering farmers’ access to loans and paperwork and putting SNAP and WIC support at risk (likely through October but possibly running out in coming weeks), a shortfall that could leave hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans with less to eat.
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📌 Key Facts
- Timeline: The U.S. Senate failed to advance a spending bill on Sept. 19, 2025; top congressional leaders met with President Trump on Sept. 29 with no deal, and federal funding lapsed—triggering a government shutdown that began Oct. 1, 2025.
- OMB/White House contingency actions: The Office of Management and Budget ordered federal agencies to draft mass‑firing/reduction‑in‑force plans and threatened RIF notices for programs whose funding expired on Oct. 1.
- Immediate federal impacts: Many national parks, monuments and museums closed; the IRS, some HHS programs, environmental and food inspections were scaled back; hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed (with a 2019 law guaranteeing eventual back pay); some essential services — Social Security and Medicare benefits, VA health care and burials, and the U.S. Postal Service — continue to operate, while TSA and active military remained on duty but could face delayed pay.
- USDA and farm services disruption: USDA furloughed roughly half its workforce (FSA about 67% furloughed; most Rural Development staff furloughed), and local USDA/FSA offices were locked or closed, preventing in‑person services and delaying farmer transactions (e.g., inability to get FSA co‑signatures to deposit grain‑sale checks).
- Nutrition programs at risk: Federal and state officials warned SNAP and WIC funding would likely cover October but could run out in November (the White House press secretary warned WIC could run out in days); Minnesota officials said the state had only 'a few weeks' of WIC funding. Minnesota WIC served more than 100,000 people per month in 2024 and covered about 38% of infants born in 2023.
- Minnesota‑specific impacts and scale: Minnesota is home to roughly 20,000 federal civilian employees (about 35,000 including military in some counts); local closures included the Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul. Governor Tim Walz warned a prolonged shutdown could disrupt key services, accused the administration of 'vindictiveness' over funding actions, and said he would not 'bend the knee' to pressure from the White House.
- Political and economic context: Republicans proposed a short‑term funding bill to Nov. 21 while Democrats sought reversals of Medicaid cuts and extension of ACA marketplace premium tax credits; analysts note failure to extend subsidies could leave millions uninsured (CBO cited ~2 million becoming uninsured in a specific estimate), polling shows broad public support for extending marketplace subsidies, and past shutdowns cost the economy—CBO put the 2018–19 shutdown at about $11 billion (~$2.2 billion per week).
📚 Contextual Background
- A 2019 law requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay after a government shutdown ends.
- Essential federal functions generally continue during a shutdown, including border protection, law enforcement, air traffic control and power grid maintenance.
- Starting Oct. 1, the new maximum monthly SNAP allotments for Minnesota households are: 1 person $298, 2 people $546, 3 people $785, 4 people $994, 5 people $1,183, 6 people $1,421, 7 people $1,571, 8 people $1,789, and each additional person $218.
📰 Sources (15)
Political expert, pollsters weigh in on health insurance subsidies
New information:
- Kaiser Family Foundation polling showing roughly three-quarters of adults favor extending the enhanced marketplace subsidies, with partisan breakouts (Democrats 90%, independents 80%, Republicans 60%).
- Quoted local academic expert (Hamline University’s David Schultz) framing the subsidies dispute as a central ideological fight and suggesting a limited temporary extension as a possible off-ramp.
- CBO estimate highlighted that around 2 million additional Americans could become uninsured if subsidies lapse (contextualized with the 'more than 23 million' figure).
Government shutdown: When will WIC run out of funds in MN?
New information:
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt explicitly warned the WIC program could run out of funds in coming days amid the shutdown.
- Minnesota Department of Health says the state has enough funding to keep WIC services going for 'a few weeks.'
- Program usage figures: Minnesota WIC served more than 100,000 people per month in 2024 and covered nearly 38% of infants born in 2023.
Minnesota farmers first in waves of impact from government shutdown
New information:
- Quantified operational furloughs: USDA furloughing about half its workforce; Farm Services Agency furloughing about 67% of employees; 'nearly everyone' in Rural Development furloughed.
- Local office impact: USDA and related offices in St. Paul are locked/closed, preventing in-person FSA services.
- SNAP/WIC timeline: State budget director Ahna Minge said SNAP and WIC funds appear likely to be available through October but may not be available in November.
- Scale estimate: Report cites roughly 600,000 Minnesotans could have less to eat in about a month if funding lapses; Minnesota has about 18,000 federal workers (mostly VA and USDA).
- First-hand impact example: Farmer Anne Schwagerl described needing FSA co-signatures to deposit grain-sale checks and pay bills, which are unavailable while FSA offices are closed.
Gov. Walz says he won't 'bend the knee' to Pres. Trump amid funding cuts concerns
New information:
- Direct, colorful quotes from Gov. Tim Walz refusing to "bend the knee," "kiss the ring," or acquiesce to the president.
- Reporting that the Trump administration has cut specific funding including $8 billion in climate funding affecting states such as Minnesota (and $18 billion for a NYC transportation project) as part of pressure tactics during the shutdown.
- Walz’s explicit accusation of "vindictiveness" by the White House and his saying the administration threatened investigations and "jail time" over trivial incidents (quoted language).
Walz says prolonged government shutdown could disrupt key services in Minnesota
New information:
- Governor Tim Walz publicly warned that a prolonged federal government shutdown could disrupt key services in Minnesota.
- Walz framed the shutdown as a risk to state residents who depend on federally funded services (per Star Tribune report).
- The governor made a public statement urging action to avoid prolonged disruption (reported by the Star Tribune).
Minnesota impact: Government shutdown politics and economics
New information:
- National Park Service closed the Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul as operations went dark due to the shutdown.
- The FOX 9 report cites roughly 750,000 federal employees being furloughed nationally (context for Minnesota impact).
- The story uses the CBO's $11 billion cost for the 2018–19 shutdown and frames that as about $2.2 billion per week, giving an immediate economic scale.
- Direct quotes from Minnesota officials: Rep. Tom Emmer and Sen. Tina Smith, and a quote from Minnesota Farmers Union official Gary Wertish about farm-level impacts.
Federal shutdown could affect thousands of Minnesota workers
New information:
- Minnesota is home to roughly 20,000 federal employees; the total rises to about 35,000 if military personnel are included.
- Many Minnesota federal workers will be expected to continue working during the shutdown but could face interrupted paychecks.
- The article is Minnesota-focused, providing state-level context and counts not present in the broader national coverage.
Government shutdown starts: Here's what closes during a shutdown
New information:
- The federal government officially shut down overnight after the funding deadline passed (shutdown now in effect).
- Immediate operational impacts: national parks, monuments and many museums will close; IRS will scale back processing and assistance; some HHS programs and environmental/food inspections will scale back.
- Staffing/benefits details: hundreds of thousands of federal employees are likely to be furloughed (historically up to ~850,000); Social Security and Medicare continue but may experience delays; TSA and military remain working but may not be paid until funding is restored; USPS is not affected as an independent entity.
- Cited sources and context: reporting cites the Office of Management and Budget, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and notes a 2019 law requiring furloughed employees eventually receive back pay.
Government Shutdown 2025: What could be affected and when could it start?
New information:
- Republicans are proposing a short-term funding bill through Nov. 21; Democrats seek reversing Medicaid cuts and extending ACA premium tax credits.
- House is not expected to hold any votes this week, dimming chances for a last-minute deal.
- Clarifies which services continue: Social Security and Medicare continue, VA health care and burials proceed, and USPS is unaffected.
- Confirms furloughed federal employees are guaranteed back pay under a 2019 law.
- Details that OMB has threatened potential reduction-in-force notices for programs whose funding expires Oct. 1 and lack alternatives.
‘We’re headed to a shutdown’: White House meeting ends with no deal as deadline nears
New information:
- After a Sept. 29, 2025 White House meeting with congressional leaders, no agreement was reached to avert a federal shutdown.
- Participants signaled pessimism about averting a shutdown, summarized by the post‑meeting quote 'We’re headed to a shutdown.'
- This is the first official readout of the Sept. 29 leaders’ meeting outcome, following earlier scheduling of the meeting.
Government shutdown draws closer as congressional leaders head to the White House
New information:
- Top congressional leaders are heading to the White House on September 29 for talks with President Trump as a possible shutdown nears.
- The article frames the shutdown risk as escalating immediately ahead of the federal funding deadline.
White House budget office tells agencies to draft mass firing plans ahead of potential shutdown
New information:
- The White House Office of Management and Budget directed federal agencies to draft plans for mass firings ahead of a potential government shutdown.
- The directive represents an executive-branch contingency action beyond congressional negotiations previously reported.
- Reported Sept. 25, 2025, as shutdown risk persists.
Trump to meet with Schumer and Jeffries as government shutdown risk looms
New information:
- President Donald Trump will meet with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss averting a government shutdown.
- The meeting was announced September 22, 2025, as the shutdown deadline approaches.
Chance of government shutdown rises as US Senate fails to advance spending bill
New information:
- The U.S. Senate failed to advance a spending bill on September 19, 2025.
- This action increases the likelihood of a partial federal government shutdown absent further congressional action.