How the government shutdown would impact the BWCA and Minnesota border
The federal government is heading toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics as the Associated Press reports that Republicans in the House, fueled by hard-right demands for deep cuts, force a confrontation over federal spending.
In Cook County, the shutdown would impact federal employees who work on Superior National Forest for the US Forest Service. In previous government shutdowns, including 2013 and 2018, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness remained opened. This year, the shutdown could impact things like upkeep at campgrounds on Superior National Forest, but even those largely remained open during previous shutdowns. Regarding BWCA access, all overnight permits become self-issued starting Oct. 1, which coincidentally would be the first day of the shutdown. If the Tofte and Gunflint ranger stations temporarily close due to a shutdown of the federal government, all permits would still be available at outfitters or self-issue kiosks located at entry points to the BWCA.
WTIP reached out to Forest Service officials Sept 26, including Forest Supervisor Tom Hall, for comment on the impacts the shutdown would have across Superior National Forest, including the BWCA. Forest Service officials declined to comment on a “potential” shutdown “prior to confirmation.”
Meanwhile, at the border, if the shutdown occurs, all Border Patrol agents would remain on the job, though things like maintenance and upkeep would be halted during the shutdown. There is active construction at the border patrol station in Grand Marais at this time, for example. The U.S. military and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are considered essential services, which means border officers and customs workers remain on the job. Border crossings have remained opened during previous shutdowns in Cook County and across the Minnesota-Ontario border.
A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass some type of funding legislation that is signed into law by the president. Lawmakers are supposed to pass 12 different spending bills to fund agencies across the government, but the process is time-consuming. They often resort to passing a temporary extension, called a continuing resolution or CR, to allow the government to keep operating.
When no funding legislation is enacted, federal agencies have to stop all nonessential work and will not send paychecks as long as the shutdown lasts.
Although employees deemed essential such as air traffic controllers and law enforcement officers still have to report to work, other federal employees are furloughed. Under a 2019 law, those same workers are slated to receive backpay once the funding impasse is resolved.
Government funding expires Oct. 1, the start of the federal budget year. A shutdown will effectively begin at 12:01 a.m. if Congress is not able to pass a funding plan that the president signs into law.
It is impossible to predict how long a shutdown would last. With Congress divided between a Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-led House, and Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s hard-right conservatives looking to use the shutdown as leverage for spending cuts, many are bracing for a stoppage that could last weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.