If federal lawmakers can’t attain an settlement to fund the federal government earlier than Tuesday night time’s deadline, 1000’s of federal staff within the Bay Space could possibly be furloughed or requested to work with out a paycheck till the deadlock is resolved.
How that may have an effect on public providers was unclear on Monday. Many federal businesses couldn’t say, and previous authorities shutdowns have performed out otherwise. Analysts and staff anticipate interruptions to some federal providers, however not others.
However each Republicans and Democrats laid out dire penalties from a chronic shutdown.
Republican President Donald Trump’s White Home in a press release Monday blamed Democrats, although Republicans management Congress and the White Home, and stated they have been jeopardizing “critical funding for veterans, seniors, law enforcement and many others.”
Republicans’ slim majorities in Congress require dealmaking with Democrats, who countered that they’re withholding votes in an effort to increase Reasonably priced Care Act subsidies and oppose the Republican administration’s cuts to Medicaid.
About 8,000 federal staff would go with out pay within the East Bay U.S. Home district of Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, the Democrat stated. Plus, 10,000 low-income residents would briefly lose their meals help advantages, he stated. Within the Silicon Valley district of Rep. Ro Khanna, one other Democrat, 5,300 federal staff can be furloughed. Statewide, Democrats estimate 190,000 federal staff can be furloughed or compelled to work with out pay, plus 213,000 navy personnel within the state.
DeSaulnier stated his get together, led by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, was taking a stand in opposition to the broad cuts to well being care spending and diet help in Trump’s centerpiece “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Which will sate a Democratic Social gathering base that’s hungry for its leaders to place up a combat in opposition to the Republican administration, stated Thad Kousser, a political science professor at UC San Diego.
“I can’t imagine the Democrats getting billions in Medicaid funding restored next week,” he stated. “But by highlighting the bread and butter issues that they stand for, and setting the stage for issues they want to fight for in the 2026 midterms, they can start the path toward a political recovery.”
And as of Monday afternoon, it was nonetheless unclear whether or not the U.S. would see its first federal authorities shutdown since 2019, the longest in historical past — or how lengthy one would final.
Within the occasion of a federal authorities shutdown, California’s 280 state parks and seashores will stay open.
What’s going to occur, nonetheless, on the 28 nationwide park items in California — together with Yosemite, Muir Woods, Pinnacles, Dying Valley, and Golden Gate Nationwide Recreation Space websites like Alcatraz Island and Fort Level — remained unclear Monday. Officers on the Nationwide Park Service and Division of Inside didn’t reply to questions.
Staff at nationwide parks in California stated they’ve obtained no course from the Trump administration on what they need to inform guests and other people with reservations at inns and campgrounds. In 1995 and 2013, when presidents Clinton and Obama have been in workplace, their administrations closed nationwide parks throughout federal authorities shutdowns when Congress couldn’t agree on a funds. However in 2018, throughout President Trump’s first time period, he selected to go away nationwide parks partially open throughout a 35-day shutdown. Charges weren’t collected, restrooms remained closed, solely a small crew of rangers remained.
“Americans watched helplessly as Joshua Trees were cut down, park buildings were vandalized, prehistoric petroglyphs were defaced, trash overflowed, leading to wildlife impacts, and human waste piled up,” stated Theresa Pierno, president of the Nationwide Parks Conservation Affiliation. “Visitor safety and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources were put at serious risk. We cannot allow this to happen again.”
Throughout prior authorities shutdowns, federal regulation enforcement officers and firefighters haven’t been furloughed. A contingency plan for shutdowns revealed in January 2024 by the U.S. Forest Service on the finish of the Biden administration stated that roughly half of the 37,485 Forest Service staff — together with wildlife firefighters — would stay at work to guard life and property if the federal government shut down in future.
There are 20 million acres of nationwide forest lands in California, making up 20% of the state. Nationwide forests embody huge areas in Massive Sur, the Sierra Nevada, the mountains round Los Angeles, and much Northern California close to the Oregon border. Officers at Cal Fireplace, the state’s main firefighting company have stated they anticipate Forest Service firefighters to proceed battling wildfires, however are involved that different work, like fireplace prevention initiatives, would possibly cease.
“Normally these shutdowns don’t affect the federal firefighting agencies as much. We are confident there will still be firefighting resources,” stated Battalion Chief Jesse Torres, a spokesman for Cal Fireplace.
Social safety and Medicare advantages payouts would take into account as typical, in line with the Committee for a Accountable Funds, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. However Bonnie Burns, coverage specialist at California Well being Advocates, stated these packages are already understaffed after the DOGE-led cuts to authorities providers that Trump led within the spring. A shutdown would doubtless influence the decision facilities which can be essential for program recipients, she stated.
However, federal courthouses within the Bay Space would function as typical — within the quick time period.
Nor will Amtrak trains be affected.
And spokesperson for airports in Oakland and San Jose stated they didn’t anticipate to be impacted by a authorities shutdown. TSA officers and federal air site visitors controllers would doubtless be thought-about important staff and required to work with out pay, they stated, till lawmakers attain an settlement.
Initially Printed: September 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM PDT
