What Kentucky lawmakers are saying about a possible government shutdown

As of midday Tuesday, politicians in Washington are still sparring over details of how to fund the US government.

"I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity.

Are you new here? Sign up for the free newsletter or subscribe to support our mission.

If leaders in Congress can't come to an agreement with President Donald Trump, America could be facing a government shutdown. That would mean millions of federal employees could go without paychecks, and many, such as airport security officers, air traffic controllers, and members of the military, are told to come to work anyway without pay.

If a new funding plan isn't agreed on by Wednesday, October 1st at 12:01 AM, government funding will essentially expire and all nonessential government agencies will be put on hold.

How did we get here?

Government shutdowns occur when Congress fails to agree on a federal funding plan, and typically, deep partisan disagreements underlie them.

Republicans want Congress to pass a short-term funding bill without additional provisions, keeping the government funded at current levels through November 20th.

Democrats are demanding that any funding package include extensions of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, as well as reversals of Medicaid cuts enacted in earlier Republican legislation

President Trump has said a shutdown is likely unless top democrats back down from their negotiating position.

The last government shutdown in 2018 lasted 35 days, making it the longest government shutdown in more than four decades. It cost the United States $3 billion in lost GDP, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

What are Kentucky Congress members saying about it?

Rand Paul and Thomas Massie have maintained their fiscally conservative positions even when it puts them at odds with their party leadership, while Mitch McConnell is calling for negotiations to avoid a shutdown.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): Paul said he would support a plan to reduce spending and reduce deficit spending, stating that both sides need to consider proposals and decide what's best for the country, according to reporting from KYMA.

He also voted against the Republican short-term funding bill in the Senate, staying consistent with his typical position as a fiscal conservative who often opposes spending measures.

When asked about potential mass firings if a shutdown occurs, Paul defended the president's authority to hire and fire within the executive branch, citing court decisions that have upheld this power.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY): Massie was one of only two House Republicans who voted against the GOP's short-term funding bill. Both Massie and Paul have been outliers within their party on spending and government shutdown issues, maintaining their Tea Party-era fiscal conservative positions.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY): McConnell called for both sides to communicate and reach an agreement, saying "The president and the Democrats are not even talking. They need to be talking and they need to be talking soon", McConnell said during a recent interview with WDRB.

What could this mean for Kentucky?

Kentucky has 23,449 federal civilian employees (not including military personnel or contractors) who could be affected by furloughs or required to work without pay during a shutdown.

Kentucky's two major national park sites would face significant disruptions:

• Mammoth Cave National Park would remain only partially accessible with no cave tours, limited emergency services, and closed facilities that require staffing like picnic areas and restrooms.
• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park in Hodgenville would have limited access that could change without notice.

This is particularly concerning since communities like Bowling Green, Cave City, Park City, and Edmonson County build their entire identity around Mammoth Cave National Park, so reduced personnel means fewer visitors and less economic activity for these areas.

The Kentucky office of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Louisville would close and be unable to accept, review, or approve new business loans during a shutdown.

The USDA Farm Service Agency in Kentucky could furlough workers at 64 local offices, disrupting services that farmers rely on.

Like everywhere else, Social Security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, mail delivery through USPS, and TSA/air traffic control would continue operating, though possibly not as efficiently with staff refusing to work without getting paid.

President Trump met with top Congressional leaders on Monday afternoon, but nothing productive was reported after the meeting.

Like what you see? Learn more about Shay Informed here! This is honest journalism with compassion and clarity.