Walz warns shutdown could disrupt services; USDA furloughs threaten farmers and SNAP
As congressional negotiations stalled and the White House ordered agencies to draft mass‑firing plans, Gov. Tim Walz warned a prolonged federal shutdown could disrupt key services Minnesotans rely on. USDA furloughs have shuttered local Farm Service and Rural Development offices (FSA furloughing about two‑thirds of staff), hampering farmers' access to loans and paperwork and leaving SNAP and WIC funds likely available through October but potentially at risk in November for roughly 600,000 Minnesotans.
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🔍 Key Facts
- After the U.S. Senate failed to advance a spending bill on Sept. 19, leaders met with the White House (meetings announced Sept. 22; a Sept. 29 meeting produced no deal) and the federal government officially shut down after the Oct. 1 funding deadline passed.
- The White House Office of Management and Budget instructed agencies to draft contingency plans including potential mass firings and threatened reduction‑in‑force notices for programs whose funding expired Oct. 1.
- Immediate operational impacts include closures of national parks, monuments and many museums (including the Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul); scaled‑back IRS processing and assistance; reduced HHS programs and environmental/food inspections; and widespread furloughs—historical and reporting context cites roughly 750,000 federal furloughs nationally—while Social Security and Medicare continue and USPS is unaffected as an independent entity.
- USDA operations were hit hard: roughly half of USDA staff were furloughed, the Farm Service Agency furloughed about 67% of its employees and nearly all Rural Development staff were furloughed, with local USDA/FSA offices (including in St. Paul) closed and in‑person services suspended.
- Food‑assistance programs face near‑term uncertainty: Minnesota officials said SNAP and WIC funds appear likely to be available through October but may not be available in November, putting an estimated ~600,000 Minnesotans at risk of having less to eat within about a month if funding lapses.
- Minnesota is home to roughly 18,000–20,000 federal civilian employees (about 35,000 when including military personnel); many federal workers may be required to continue working during the shutdown but could face interrupted pay — furloughed employees are guaranteed back pay under a 2019 law once funding is restored.
- Political and economic context: officials warned of broader economic costs (CBO’s 2018–19 shutdown estimate of $11 billion, about $2.2 billion per week, was cited), and Minnesota leaders including Gov. Tim Walz cautioned that a prolonged shutdown would disrupt key services and criticized the administration’s funding cuts and tactics.
- Farmers reported immediate, tangible harm: with FSA offices closed, producers (for example, farmer Anne Schwagerl) cannot obtain required FSA co‑signatures to deposit grain‑sale checks, access loans or complete paperwork, disrupting cash flow and farm operations.
📍 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 (13)
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.