Congress Faces March 1 Shutdown Deadline, Agencies Prepare for Impacts to Benefits and Services
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Congress faces a March 1 partial government shutdown deadline if funding is not extended, with formal shutdown preparations beginning this week.
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Key agencies like Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Energy have all updated contingency plans for a potential shutdown.
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Impacts could include delays in veteran benefits, air traffic control training, housing assistance, food stamps, and more.
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If shutdown occurs, about 96% of Veterans Affairs staff would continue working, along with over half of Agriculture and Energy Department staff.
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The longer any partial shutdown lasts, the more serious the impacts across the government, with programs at risk of running out of funding.