The Senate voted 88-9 to approve a stopgap spending bill that will fund the federal government through Nov. 17 – just over 45 days from now. The bill narrowly avoided a shutdown by last night’s midnight deadline. President Biden signed the bill into law shortly afterward.
That stopgap bill will keep things operating normally around here – as a government shutdown in the hi-desert means a lot of affected folks – however after 45 days it’s entirely possible that we return to the same waiting game to see if the different branches agree on keeping things running.
If that shutdown were to happen – here’s how things could be affected:
On the Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Base, essential services would remain available to Marines, families, and residents, according to Communication Strategy and Operations Director Captain Johnathon Huizar..
Huizar says personnel who provide health, safety, and emergency services will continue to work. Additionally, access to the following services would not be interrupted, though operations may be diminished: pay and benefits for permitted personnel, installation-based childcare programs and schools, commissaries, and exchanges.
Veteran health care would also not be impacted. VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers would remain open.
VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits.
Joshua Tree National Park avoided closing its gates with the passing of the stopgap bill. During the last government shutdown in 2019 – the National Parks remained open but understaffed, leaving trash to pile up and illegal camping and off-roading to go mostly unchecked. Volunteer Residents and a skeleton park staff stepped up and maintained the park to the best of their ability – but with a park size of over 1200 square miles – roughly the size of Rhode Island – upkeep was difficult. There isn’t any indication that the Parks would stay open during this anticipated shutdown – and hopefully that won’t be something the National park Service will have to address on November 17th when the current stopgap funding bill expires.
