As of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday,  the federal government shut down as congressional lawmakers remain at odds over funding the government beyond September 30.  How does this impact services in the Santa Clarita Valley?

This is the third government shutdown in U.S. history to occur during the Trump Administration. The last, in 2018–2019, was the longest on record, lasting 35 days and affecting some 800,000 workers across roughly one-quarter of federal agencies.

This time, more than 1.6 million federal employees are impacted — about 900,000 furloughed and another 700,000 working without pay.

Multiple agencies have been partially or fully shuttered, including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the WIC program. Almost 90% of the Education Department has been placed on furlough, as has roughly 80% of the Commerce Department, three-quarters of the Labor Department and two-thirds of the State Department, according to agency plans posted online.

At a White House press conference Thursday, Vice President J.D. Vance warned that layoffs could follow if the shutdown continues.

“We are going to have to lay people off,” Vance said. “We’re gonna have to save money in some places so the essential services don’t get turned off in other places.”

On Tuesday, White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought told Fox Business that “we will be looking for opportunities” to reduce the size of the federal government during the shutdown. Unlike previous shutdowns, Vought said the administration may cut jobs and programs outright, not just furlough workers.

The remarks echoed former President Donald Trump’s own comments directing federal agencies to prepare for mass firings if lawmakers fail to pass a budget deal and the shutdown continues.

“We have the authority to make permanent change to the bureaucracy here in government,” Vought said.

Some self-funded agencies remain unaffected.  The U.S. Postal Service continues to operate, supported primarily by revenue from postage.

Tax processing will also continue. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, enacted under President Joe Biden, also gives the IRS money to operate through 2031.

According to agency plans published Monday, IRS offices are expected to remain fully staffed for five days after the shutdown begins.

However, the IRS workforce itself has been reduced to about 75,000 employees as of October, after Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill trimmed more than one-quarter of its staff.

Just last month, the agency acknowledged it was attempting to rebuild its workforce after “staffing reductions created a potential gap in mission-critical expertise,” according to IRS officials.

Meanwhile, employees at fundamental agencies are expected to keep working without pay to serve the American public. That includes 88% of the staff at the Social Security Administration and 96% of employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In Santa Clarita, residents may feel impacts in smaller but important ways. For example, all National Weather Service public activities, have been canceled or postponed until further notice. National parks will remain partially open in the form of open-air sites, though visitor centers will be closed as about 64% of the National Park Service workforce is set to be furloughed.

Unusually, the White House OMB website has not published details on which services will continue or which employees are deemed essential. Traditionally, the site serves as a central hub of information during shutdowns.

As of Wednesday, no plans are posted there.

Instead, some departments, including the Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency,  have started posting copies of their shutdown plans on their own websites.

To fill the gap, federal representatives serving the Santa Clarita Valley are stepping in.

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff from California has released a Government Shutdown FAQ to explain which resources remain available and which have been halted.

Congressman George Whitesides (D-Agua Dulce), who represents California’s 27th District, has kept his offices open to assist constituents, though casework may be limited by agency closures.

For the duration of the shutdown, Whitesides said he will donate his entire Congressional salary to Meals on Wheels programs in Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley.

“In the midst of a national cost crisis, Republicans in Congress have made it clear they’re willing to shut down the government to protect massive health care cuts and tax breaks for billionaires,” Whitesides said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “I’m willing to work with anyone to lower costs, create jobs, and make meaningful progress for our country, but I won’t vote for anything that harms my constituents. I urge my colleagues to return to Washington and negotiate a fair budget deal that protects health care and addresses the rising costs families in my district and across the country are facing. In the meantime, my office remains open and available to assist constituents with their needs.”

Constituents of California’s 27th Congressional District who need assistance can submit their request here or reach one of Whitesides’ caseworkers via phone during normal business hours at district office locations.

If you have a comment or would like to share how a shutdown impacts you, send a message or reach out to Whitesides’ offices:

Santa Clarita Office: (661) 568-4855

Antelope Valley Office: (661) 839-0532

Washington, D.C. Office: (202) 225-1956

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.