Campus offices at the University of Wisconsin-Madison prepared for a looming federal government shutdown which would have begun on Sunday, but Congress passed a bill to keep the federal government funded for 45 more days during a last-minute vote on Saturday.
When in a shutdown, “federal agencies must discontinue all non-essential discretionary functions until new funding legislation is passed and signed into law,” according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Mandatory spending programs, among other essential programs, would continue.
Mike Lenn, UW-Madison federal relations director, told The Daily Cardinal the university was aware of the likelihood of a shutdown and has taken necessary precautions.
“We have experience from past shutdowns, and we have the resources in place to ensure smooth operations,” Lenn said. “In fact, preparations began a month ago.”
However, several aspects of day-to-day life at UW-Madison could be affected should a shutdown occur.
Most federal groups, “will not be able to provide assistance during a shutdown,” meaning any means of communication with government officials of federal programs would essentially face a standstill, UW-Madison said Thursday.
Lenn said the initial impact to students would not be significant.
“Should a federal government shutdown occur, the impact to campus operations and day-to-day life for most students will not change dramatically in the short term,” Lenn said. “Much like the rest of the country, however, the longer a shutdown lasts, the more its impacts will be felt by the average student.”
Congress had until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday to pass the spending parameters for the federal government. Had they failed to do so, the shutdown would have started on Sunday.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on Oct. 2 to acknowledge the passing of a funding bill that keeps the government open for 45 days.
