Here’s what a federal government shutdown could look like in Illinois – The State Journal-Register

• Federal government funding is set to expire at midnight on Sept. 30.
• President Donald Trump is set to meet with the top four congressional leaders on Sept. 29.
• Here’s how a federal government shutdown could affect the Land of Lincoln.

The federal government could shut down in less than 48 hours.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with the top four congressional leaders on Sept. 29 where they could make concessions and temporarily avoid a lapse in funding, though it appears unlikely.

Here’s what a government shutdown could mean for Illinois.

How many federal employees are in Illinois?

Illinois has 44,784 federal civilian employees as of December 2024, according to data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Would all federal workers in Illinois stop working?

If the government shuts down, federal employees throughout the country would be working with pay, working without pay, or furloughed with no income.

Some federal employees would be deemed essential, such as law enforcement and those involved in national defense.

Do state employees stop working under a federal government shutdown?

State employees whose employers depend on federal funds to operate could be out of work during a shutdown if their work is deemed by the government to be non-necessary, according to a USA Today report from 2023.

State employees who receive salaries from private employers who do not rely on federal funds wouldn’t necessarily be impacted, though certain state employees could be furloughed until a shutdown passes.

How many state employees are in Illinois?

Illinois employs more than 76,000 people at state agencies and departments, according to a 2022 report from The State Journal-Register.

U.S. Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service would not be affected because it does not depend on Congress for funding.

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

These agencies and programs would continue because some of their mandatory spending is not subject to annual appropriations by Congress.

National Parks

National parks, monuments, and other sites would close to the public, with rangers furloughed and facilities shut down. Some states may temporarily fund park operations, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, according to USA Today.

TSA and air traffic controllers

Transportation Security Administration agents who operate security at airports, as well as air-traffic control workers would be required to work. Some airports in past shutdowns have struggled with staffers not showing up to work, though, which forced some operations to be suspended.

What are Illinois leaders saying?

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth released a statement on Sept. 19, saying that “by fully embracing Trump’s command to reject bipartisanship, Republicans alone are to blame for driving our country toward a shutdown.”

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.