SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Wednesday is the first day of a government shutdown, after the Senate failed to pass a spending bill by midnight, keeping the government funded. ABC57's Annie Kate looked into the immediate, local impacts of a shutdown.
At South Bend International Airport on Wednesday, Transportation Security Authority (TSA) agents still ran airport security, considered essential workers. Travelers warily went about their plans, like Joe Federici.
"I got up to get to the airport very early this morning because I wanted to avoid any potential problems with the government shutdown," Federici said. "I left Savannah early because I was worried about what the impact of the shutdown might be."
And travelers like Andre Rhodes.
"I did come in a little early just to see what was going on with security. I didn't know if it was going to be delayed or closed," Rhodes said. "People aren't getting paid, that's a concern. Security, that's a concern."
ABC57 received the following statement from TSA Media:
“Beginning midnight October 1st, funding for much of the Federal Government will have expired due to the partisan politics of left-wing politicians. While it is unfortunate some of our politicians have put politics before the well-being of our country, TSA is prepared for an orderly shutdown.
Approximately 61,000 of the agency’s 64,000 employees are considered excepted or exempt, and TSA will continue operations to keep the traveling public safe. The remaining employees will be temporarily furloughed.
While TSA is prepared to continue screening about 2.5M passengers a day, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. We kindly ask for our passengers’ patience during this time. Despite this challenge, we will remain vigilant and focused on performing our vital security mission on behalf of the American people.”
Elsewhere, workers still showed up at the downtown Social Security office. A memo posted on the front door listed what services are still available for public walk-ins.
A Social Security Administration (SSA) spokesperson sent ABC57 the following statement:
"The Social Security Administration (SSA) will follow the contingency plan for continued activities, and Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving their Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance, and SSI payments."
That contingency plan can be found here.
Meanwhile, the Federal Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Indiana were both operating, business as usual.
A notice on the court's website states:
"Despite a government shutdown, the United States Court for the Northern District of Indiana will remain open and continue operations through October 3, 2025, at which time the Federal Judiciary will reassess its situation.
All proceedings and deadlines remain in effect as scheduled unless otherwise advised. The electronic filing system, CM/ECF, will remain in operation for the electronic filing of documents with the Court."
However, an agency unaffected by government shutdowns is the United States Postal Service (USPS).
South Bend's downtown post office was operating like normal on Wednesday. Its postmaster said USPS has never stopped in a shutdown during her career.
USPS sent ABC57 the following statement:
"U.S. Postal Service operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual. Because we are an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown."
The state of federal operations still rests in the Senate.
"The way everybody's entrenched on both sides of the equation, whether they're conservative or liberal, I don't think this is going to get resolved anytime soon," said Rhodes. "I think both sides are pretty much dug into their positions, and no side is willing to compromise at this point."
"It's really hard to say how long this might go on," Federici said. "It seems like both sides are really dug in, and neither is going to be moving anytime soon."