The federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on Wednesday because Congress had not passed a funding bill, resulting in 130,000 federal civilian workers in Texas being either forced to work without pay or facing furloughs. At the same time, Social Security and military operations continued to operate normally.
Texas holds a position among the four leading states for federal employment, as most workers are employed in the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Army and Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the Treasury. The shutdown impacts Big Bend National Park operations and Veterans Benefits Administration offices in Houston and Waco, as well as U.S. Department of Agriculture service centers throughout Texas. However, Border Patrol agents and TSA officers must continue their duties without pay.
Healthcare Funding Battle Triggers Congressional Impasse
The shutdown happened because Democrats refused to support Republican funding measures that contained both Affordable Care Act premium subsidy extensions and Medicaid funding for Trump’s domestic initiatives. White House negotiations failed because Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wanted actual discussions, but Republicans maintained that healthcare issues should stay separate from government funding decisions.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Democrats’ use of federal workers as political leverage a childish political move that he described as a childish tantrum. The 100-member Senate requires 60 votes to pass spending bills, which enables Democrats to stop Republican-controlled congressional operations.
Essential Services Continue Amid Widespread Disruptions
The shutdown does not impact vital government operations because Social Security and Medicare benefits, veterans’ healthcare services, military operations, and border security enforcement continue without interruption. The border patrol officers, ICE agents, and military personnel at Texas bases Fort Hood and Fort Bliss will continue their work without pay until normal funding becomes available.
The National Park Service maintained park outdoor spaces for public access but closed all facilities because conservation groups feared uncontrolled park activities would result in lasting environmental damage. The airport security and air traffic control systems continued to operate, but previous shutdowns had led to significant travel disruptions due to the absence of TSA staff.
Trump Administration Threatens Permanent Workforce Reductions
President Trump escalated tensions by threatening to use the shutdown for permanent federal job cuts, telling reporters: “So we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And they’re Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats”. The White House ordered all agencies to create “reduction in force” plans, which went further than regular furloughs, thus marking a new high point for presidential authority during government shutdowns.
The administration has already reduced the federal workforce by approximately 200,000 positions since January, with plans to reach 300,000 cuts by year’s end through the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. “If it happens, we are going to eliminate many of the positions that we can cut permanently,” Trump warned NBC News on Sunday.