Shutdown could idle 800,000 workers

WASHINGTON — The federal government started calling agencies and departments Thursday to tell officials which of them would stay open and which could close in the event of a partial government shutdown Saturday.

The government also started telling federal employees who would keep working — albeit with IOUs in lieu of paychecks — and who would be furloughed. Roughly 800,000 would be laid off, their pay subject to an act of Congress.

How a partial shutdown would affect some parts of the federal government:

OPEN

• Air traffic controllers would work, and airports would remain open.

• The National Weather Service would stay open to monitor floods, storms and tornadoes.

• Federal courts would be open, completely staffed for a time thanks to fees and other funding not provided by Congress. "We are going to be open for at least 10 days," said Karen Redmond, a spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. "Beyond that, each court is making contingency plans."

• Customs inspectors and Border Patrol agents would work.

• Federal prisons would remain open, guards on duty.

• Food stamps would be distributed.

• NASA's satellite missions would remain operating.

• Members of the military would remain on duty, but would be paid retroactively once Congress and Obama sign a budget deal.

• The Postal Service would still deliver the mail.

• Social Security checks still would be sent to current beneficiaries.

• Medicare payments still would be made.

• FBI and other federal law enforcement would keep working.

CLOSED

• National parks, monuments, the Smithsonian Institution's museums and the National Zoo would be closed.

• The Small Business Administration would stop approving applications for loans for small businesses.

• The Federal Housing Administration would stop guaranteeing mortgage loans, which could have a significant impact heading into the spring homebuying season, the year's busiest.

MIXED

• E-filed tax returns would be processed, payments would be collected and refunds would be sent out automatically. But paper-filed returns — about 30 percent of the total — wouldn't be processed, and refunds would be held until furloughed employees return to work. Audits would be postponed.

• Department of Defense civilian employees whose work helps protect life or property would keep working. Others would be sent home, apparently without pay.

• The Environmental Protection Agency would continue to monitor for radiation from the damaged nuclear-power plant in Japan. Environmental-impact statements and permits would be halted.

• The National Institutes of Health would continue to treat patients in clinical trials but would stop accepting new patients or starting new clinical trials.

• Each member of Congress would decide who among their staffs would keep working and who would be furloughed. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., for example, said all his staff members were essential. Sen. Joe Manchin, D- W.Va., said he would return his paycheck to the Treasury for work during a shutdown.

• The Secret Service would remain on guard, but many political aides would be sent home.

McClatchy Newspapers reporter Michael Doyle contributed

to this report.