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How a federal government shutdown could impact KC

Posted at 7:32 PM, Jan 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-18 23:37:17-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite the House passing a temporary budget deal on Thursday night, a government shutdown and its impact on the metro continued to loom large.

While military personnel and law enforcement will not be impacted, some facilities and many federal employees in the metro will be affected.

The shutdown will result in many non-essential federal employees being furloughed, meaning no work and no paycheck for as long as the shutdown lasts.

National parks and monuments around the country will also close if a shutdown occurs, including the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence.

“We will shut down Friday at midnight if there is a government shutdown,” explained Truman Library Deputy Director Amy Williams on Thursday. “It means we will shut our doors to the public. Parking lots will be closed. The doors will be locked. Our staff will go home."

Williams also told 41 Action News that a shutdown will also lead to events at the facility being scrapped.

“Next week, we'll have to cancel tours, school groups or any public programs we have scheduled,” she explained. 

The Small Business Administration, which has an office downtown, will also be closed and loans to small businesses will freeze during a shutdown.

The last government shutdown, which occurred in 2013, lasted 16 days.

On Thursday, Williams remembered back to the time.

“All the staff were furloughed, contract staff were notified of the shutdown and we dropped down to essential staff,” she explained.

Around the metro, several sites will not be impacted by a shutdown.

The National World War I Museum & Memorial, which does not receive federal funding, will remain open if a shutdown occurs as well as the Leavenworth VA Medical Center and the Federal Reserve.

Mail service will not be stopped and services like Social Security and Medicare will continue during a shutdown.

However, with a deal yet to be reached as of Thursday night, plenty of uncertainty remained in the metro.

“Our staff will go home until there is a new continuing resolution or a budget passed,” Williams explained. “We do prepare. We have to prepare."