[I felt this could be its own thread. If the mods disagree, as usual they are welcome to merge.]
Here is the updated list of everything that is affected going into this week of closure:
Travelt
Along with national parks opening on a state-by-state basis, the fish and wildlife service said it is reopening several refuges to allow pheasant and duck hunting, as the hunting season gets under way.
More than 2,900 Federal Aviation Administration inspectors were initially furloughed, putting an end to inspections of plane, pilot and aircraft repair stations. The FAA asked 800 employees to return to work last week.
The courtsFederal courts have sufficient alternative funds to run until Thursday, and possibly Friday. From then on, courts will shut down all non-essential work. It is up to each court to determine what is or isn't essential. Court-appointed lawyers and jurors could be asked to work, but might not be compensated until the shutdown ends.
Some districts have requested a blanket halt to civilian cases because agencies involved with these cases have been furloughed. Attorneys have had to file stay requests for cases that have approaching deadlines.
Immigration court proceedings scheduled before the shutdown are being canceled, impeding green card applications.
The US supreme court says it will continue with normal operations through Friday, and its building is still open to the public as usual. If Congress does not resolve its issues by that date, the court will provide another update.
EnergyThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission closed most of its operations on Thursday, though on-site inspectors will remain on the job and the government says it will handle any immediate safety or security issues.
EducationThe school systems continues to operate, though some research facilities cannot apply for government grants or access government databases. The US merchant marine academy canceled classes this week because unlike other academic institutions, nearly its entire staff is subject to furlough.
A Texas couple donated $10m to the Head Start pre-school program for children in low income families, which was shut down. The money is considered a no-interest loan and will be repaid if funding is restored at the end of the shutdown. (The loan has been criticised by some on the left, because it comes from John Arnold, a former Enron trader.)
Five states had to close their Head Start programs, while other states relied on contingency funding. The donated funds are directed at these closed programs and programs close to running out of money. On 1 November, 41 states and one US territory could lose federal money for the program.
Food programsStates have been relying on contingency funds to cover the WIC program, which provides healthy food to 9 million low-income pregnant women, new mothers and children. The USDA warned that this funding might not last after October and some state programs have temporarily shut down, then reopened with emergency cash.
MilitaryMilitary personnel remain on duty and nearly all civilian employees have been ordered back to work.
President Obama signed an order on Thursday to ensure families of fallen soldiers will continue to receive death payments, which were suspended in the early days of the shutdown.Social securityThe government traditionally announces the annual cost-of-living (Cola) increase for next year's social security payments in mid-October. Because of the shutdown, that announcement – estimated to be about 1.5%, the smallest in years – has been delayed indefinitely.
ScienceFunds for the National Science Foundation's US Antarctic program will be depleted on Monday, the agency announced last week. The USAP is entering "caretaker status," which staffs the program at a minimal level at its three primary research stations, ships and other associated facilities. Some of the research operates in specific seasonal windows because of Antarctic's harsh climate, and could be indefinitely curtailed depending on the length of the shutdown. October is usually when research programs ramp up their activities in Antarctica.
TaxesThe more than 12 million people who requested automatic extensions on their spring tax return must still file their returns, which are due on Tuesday.
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I know a few of these things affect the people here just as it also affects me.