WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington is bracing for what could be a prolonged federal shutdown after lawmakers deadlocked and missed the deadline for funding the government.

Republicans supported a short-term measure to fund the government generally at current levels through Nov. 21, but Democrats blocked it, insisting the measure address their concerns on health care. They want to reverse the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s mega-bill passed this summer and extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable for millions of people who purchase through the marketplaces established by the Affordable Care Act.

Republicans called the Democratic proposal a nonstarter that would cost taxpayers more than $1 trillion.

Samoa News reached out to Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, American Samoa’s US Congress representative for a comment on the possible repercussions to the Territory if the shutdown occurs — which as of press time was happening.

Congresswoman Amata in a post on her facebook page, on Tuesday, Sept. 29th said the following:

“I strongly oppose an unnecessary government shutdown!

“I commend my good friend, Chairman Tom Cole of the House Appropriations Committee, who did his job. He and the committee not only passed and sent forward all 12 major government funding bills, the House passed their traditional clean seven-week Continuing Resolution (C.R.) to keep the government open and allow time to work on those 12 bills. This extension would continue the current level of funding for seven more weeks – the peak funding amount from the close of the Biden Administration.

“This would provide stability – that is what is best for American Samoa – and allow for congressional work on year-long funding to go forward.

“News from the Senate seems that this course of action might not be passed, which causes a partial government shutdown at midnight eastern time tonight.”

Here’s a look at how a shutdown would occur, according to Amata:

“Veterans’ groups, including American Legion, AMVETS, and others, have noted the House-passed bill safeguards important Veterans programs, and AMVETS urged Senate passage.

“Other groups have weighed in that a shutdown is not helpful to small business, such as the National Association of Builders, and the U.S. Travel Association stating the effects on the tourism economy, and many more.

“Until the last possible minute I hope to hear that the Senate will listen to the American people and keep the government open!

“It’s important to be reassured that critical services continue, and we’ve endured government shutdowns before.

“In American Samoa, any grants already in the pipeline will be paused.

“Critical payments such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security/ S.S.I. continue, but services can be delayed.

“Veterans’ services will continue but efficiency can be delayed. Essential federal workers will keep doing their jobs.

“If a pay period passes during the shutdown, they’ve always been reimbursed.

“National Weather forecasts continue, which is important to us in the South Pacific. Also importantly, disaster immediate assistance continues, but longterm projects could be slowed.

“Military and TSA continue operations for national security and safety. However, passport and visa services could experience delays.

“We expect more guidance over the next day or two from federal departments.

“I will work to keep you informed, restore funding, and keep our services in American Samoa working for our people!” she concluded.

According to the AP, what happens in a shutdown is that a lapse in funding occurs, and the law requires agencies to cease activity and furlough “non-excepted” employees. Excepted employees include those who work to protect life and property. They stay on the job but don’t get paid until after the shutdown ends.

Of note, those programs that rely on mandatory spending generally continue during a shutdown.

Will I still get mail?

Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected by a government shutdown. It’s an independent entity funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars.

What closes during a shutdown?

All administrations get some leeway to choose which services to freeze and which to maintain in a shutdown.

Each federal agency develops its own shutdown plan. The plans outline which agency workers would stay on the job during a shutdown and which would be furloughed.

In a provocative move, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget has threatened the mass firing of federal workers in a shutdown. An OMB memo said those programs that didn’t get funding through Trump’s mega-bill this summer would bear the brunt of a shutdown.

Agencies should consider issuing reduction-in-force notices for those programs whose funding expires Wednesday, that don’t have alternative funding sources and are “not consistent with the President’s priorities,” the memo said.

That’d be a much more aggressive step than in previous shutdowns, when furloughed federal workers returned to their jobs once Congress approved government spending. A reduction in force would not only lay off employees but eliminate their positions, which would trigger another massive upheaval in a federal workforce that’s already faced major rounds of cuts this year due to efforts from the Department of Government Efficiency and elsewhere in Trump’s Republican administration.

Shutdown practices in the past

Some agencies have recently updated plans on their websites. Others still have plans that were last updated months or years ago, providing an indication of past precedent that could guide the Trump administration.

Here are some excerpts from those plans:

— Health and Human Services will furlough about 41% of its staff out of nearly 80,000 employees, according to a contingency plan posted on its website. The remaining employees will keep up activities needed to protect human life and property.

— Education Department: Already diminished by cuts by the administration, the department would see more of its work come to a halt in the event of a shutdown. The department says many of its core operations would continue — federal financial aid would keep flowing, and student loan payments would still be due — but investigations into civil rights complaints would stop and the department would not issue new federal grants. About 87% of its workforce would be furloughed.

— National Park Service: As a general rule if a facility or area is inaccessible during nonbusiness hours, it’ll be locked for the duration of the lapse in funding, said a March 2024 plan. At parks where it’s impractical or impossible to restrict public access, staffing will vary by park: “Generally, where parks have accessible park areas, including park roads, lookouts, trails, campgrounds, and open-air memorials, these areas will remain physically accessible to the public.”

(Associated Press writers Ali Swenson, Fatima Hussein and Annie Ma contributed to this report.)