Federal shutdown could have big impacts on Morongo Basin

With much of the federal government now shut down after the Senate failed to unify and agree on funding, the far-reaching impact will likely hit the Morongo Basin hard.

Last night at midnight, the American government stopped working. Specifically, the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate could not agree on one another’s funding bills to keep it open. Though the drama taking place is over 2,500 miles away, this shutdown will certainly affect those living and working in the Morongo Basin.

Nestled between two large federal entities – Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) – Twentynine Palms is particularly vulnerable.

Joshua Tree National Park experienced staff cuts earlier this year and is down to approximately 100 full time employees at the park. Tuesday morning, park staff had already received furlough notices.

Then there is the issue of how this might affect the MCAGCC, our local Marine base – notably, the world’s largest. Base population stands at roughly 12,500 active-duty personnel, 24,000 family members, and about 21,000 Department of Defense employees and contractors.

This brings the on-base total population to around 57,500 people. How much the shutdown will affect daily running of the base, its on-site services, and its population is yet to be determined.