Most civilian workers are back at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, although officials say normal operations will remain difficult during the partial government shutdown. But across the Dayton area, Wright-Patt isn’t alone in its woes since the partial federal government shutdown began Oct. 1.
A partial government shutdown is just that: partial. Lots of government programs are untouched—Medicaid, for example, or the postal service. But the phones are ringing into empty rooms at some area agencies, such as the IRS. The Treasury Department has furloughed about eighty percent of its workers.
And after just one day back open Monday, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is once again closed, although employees are still reporting to work. The federal district court for southern Ohio says within a week, it could be cutting back staff, too.
Other agencies affected include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Labor, the Department of Transportation, and Social Security offices, which are open but working with reduced staff.
It still isn’t clear whether furloughed workers will receive back pay when the government does reopen for business.