Walz warns shutdown could disrupt services; USDA furloughs threaten farmers and SNAP
Governor Tim Walz warned a prolonged federal shutdown could disrupt key services Minnesotans rely on as congressional leaders and the White House failed to reach a deal and the Senate did not advance spending, prompting OMB contingency planning. The USDA has furloughed roughly half its workforce (about 67% of FSA staff and nearly all Rural Development employees), closing local offices and hindering farmers' access to loans and signatures, while SNAP and WIC appear funded through October (or the end of the month in Minnesota) but face uncertainty thereafter.
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📌 Key Facts
- The risk of a partial federal shutdown rose after the U.S. Senate failed to advance a spending bill (Sept. 19); top congressional leaders met the president (Sept. 29) with no agreement, and a government shutdown went into effect Oct. 1, 2025.
- The White House Office of Management and Budget ordered agencies to draft mass firing/reduction‑in‑force plans ahead of the shutdown and the administration withdrew or reallocated some specific federal funds as pressure tactics.
- Negotiations were split: House Republicans proposed a short‑term stopgap through Nov. 21 while Democrats demanded reversing Medicaid cuts and extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits — a dispute with projected health coverage consequences (CBO/KFF estimates suggest a lapse could add roughly 2 million uninsured and polling shows strong public support for extending subsidies).
- Immediate nationwide impacts included closures or scaled‑back operations at national parks, many museums, some HHS programs, environmental and food inspections; the IRS would reduce processing, TSA and the military continued to work but could face delayed pay, and USPS operations were unaffected. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed nationally (reports cite roughly 750,000), though a 2019 law requires back pay for furloughed workers when funding is restored.
- USDA operations were hit hard: roughly half of USDA staff were furloughed, about 67% of Farm Service Agency employees furloughed and nearly all Rural Development staff furloughed; many local USDA and FSA offices (including in St. Paul) were closed or locked, halting in‑person services.
- The shutdown quickly affected farmers: producers reported being unable to obtain necessary FSA co‑signatures to deposit grain‑sale checks or access program services, creating immediate cash‑flow and operational problems on farms.
- Nutrition programs face imminent strain: federal and state officials said SNAP and WIC funding appeared likely to be available through October but could lapse in November; the White House warned WIC could run out in days while Minnesota officials later said state actions would keep WIC operating through the end of the month — overall estimates suggest about 600,000 Minnesotans could have less to eat within roughly a month if funding lapses.
- Minnesota‑specific context: the state is home to roughly 18,000–20,000 federal employees (about 35,000 including military), local sites such as the Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul closed, and Gov. Tim Walz publicly warned a prolonged shutdown would disrupt key services, criticizing the White House for punitive funding moves and urging action to avoid extended disruption.
📚 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.
📰 Sources (16)
Nutrition program for women, infants and children to stay afloat through end of month
New information:
- Minnesota’s WIC program will continue operating and benefits will remain available through the end of the month despite the federal shutdown.
- State officials indicated uncertainty about funding beyond month‑end absent federal action.
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.