The federal government entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, after lawmakers in Washington failed to approve new funding. The impact was seen within hours in Madison Parish, where the Madison Parish Farm Service Agency office is closed until Congress restores funding.
A pre-recorded message plays on the local FSA office phone line: “Hello, you have reached the Madison Parish Farm Service Agency. We are not in the office at this time due to a furlough and a lapse in government funding. Please leave a voicemail and we will be happy to return your call just as soon as funding has been restored. Thank you and have a great day.”
Three notices posted on the office’s front door confirm the closure. One states that the USDA office will reopen once funding is restored. Another directs the public to the Madison Parish Library at 403 Mulberry St. in Tallulah, which is providing office space free of charge to the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District during the shutdown. The notices list contacts for the SWCD as Patches McDaniel and Denotra Jones, with alternate phone numbers 318-418-0156 and 318-341-3337 and an email address at MadisonSWCD2020@gmail.com.
The Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge remains open to visitors, though services could be limited. In a statement to The Madison Journal, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said the agency would keep critical services running, including law enforcement and wildfire response, while maintaining public access to lands. Visitor centers, restrooms and guided programs may not be available while staffing is reduced.
Across the nation, federal employees deemed nonessential are being suspended, while essential staff such as air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration screeners, and military personnel continue to work without pay until the shutdown ends. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits are not affected, but many public-facing services, including federal research, regulatory oversight, and economic data collection, are paused.
Air travel operations remain in place, but the Federal Aviation Administration has furloughed about 11,000 employees, raising the risk of delays if staffing becomes strained. National parks and refuges are mostly open for self-guided use, though many facilities are closed or unstaffed. The Smithsonian museums and National Zoo in Washington, D.C., will stay open through at least Monday, Oct. 6, using carryover funds.
Nutrition programs are continuing on a temporary basis. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children is drawing from a $150 million federal contingency fund, though advocates warn the money will only last a short period if Congress does not act. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits continue, though some state-level services may slow.
The Department of Labor has suspended major economic data releases, including the monthly jobs report, until funding resumes. Financial markets are closely watching the situation, with economists warning that a prolonged shutdown could weigh on growth.
Congress can end the shutdown at any time by passing a continuing resolution or full-year spending bills. Once signed, furloughed workers return and essential employees receive back pay, as required under law. This is the first government shutdown since 2019.
