What would close during a government shutdown

MarketWatch ^ | March 2, 2011, 11:39 a.m. EST | Robert Schroeder, MarketWatch

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Congress has reached a deal to avert a government shutdown this week, but lawmakers bought themselves just two weeks to hammer out a new agreement, keeping the threat of a shutdown alive.

A government shutdown, last seen in the mid-1990s, would actually be a partial — not total — halt to federal operations. Services deemed essential would continue, but other services, operations and payments could come to a stop.

“‘Shutdown’ is, in our view, an overused term since much of the government does not actually shut down — the military continues to operate, Social Security checks go out, and air traffic controllers keep planes flying,” said Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Brian Gardner in a note earlier this week.

But much could be disrupted. New retirees, for example, might not get their Social Security checks, the White House warns. And if the past shutdowns — also brought about by budget fights — are an indication, national parks would close, federal employees would be furloughed and applications for U.S. passports would be delayed. Tax refunds would also be suspended, Gardner noted.

[BuffaloJack]

The IRS Office, I hope.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Some of it,...like refunds and audits as I understand it!

[Cyman]

ABC,NBC,CBS and PMSNBC.

They sure act like they work for Urkel!

[eccentric]

TRUE STORY: In 1978, the congress didn’t pass the spending bill by the first of the fiscal year, October 1st. While many worried about the military getting their pay on the 15th of the month, my husband had to wait until the 15th to get his re-enlistment bonus which should have been sooner. We were counting on the bonus to pay a bill to get married. He finally got the money, but then he didn’t a day off work until November. It took “An Act of Congress” for us to get married on November 2nd, 1978.

[FrankR]

[in the wind]

All of it! Non-combat military, IRS, FAA, SS, EPA, every department, all of it. Otherwise what’s the point!

[seowulf]

Non-combat military

They're all non-combat since there are no wars.

All we have are peace keeping missions, nation building missions, and kinetic military actions.

[in the wind]

sadly I have to agree with your description.

[cgbg]

I warned everyone I knew to file their taxes early so they could get the refund before a shutdown.

I think most of them took my advice.