At midnight on Wednesday, October 1, funding for the federal government ended after Congress and the White House were unable to agree on legislation to keep the government running.  This means that many federal agencies and programs are forced to pause their operations, and depending on the length of the shutdown, the effects can ripple through communities across the country.

NRPA’s Public Policy and Advocacy team is closely monitoring the shutdown and the potential impacts to NRPA members and park and recreation agencies nationwide.  We will be updating this blog post as new developments become available.

Here’s what we know now about some of the key areas where NRPA members may feel the impact:

Child Nutrition Programs: 

In previous years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released guidance about which child nutrition programs would continue operations. While current guidance isn't yet available, we expect programs that provide meals to children after school will not be impacted through at least the end of October.  

What you should do: NRPA members should contact their meal site sponsor for updates. If your organization is the sponsor, contact your state agency for the most current information.  

SNAP and WIC:

Many NRPA members help connect their communities with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs. The impacts of the shutdown will depend on how much reserve funding your state has at the time of the shutdown.  

What you should do: Your local WIC office is the best resource for specific information about how these benefits may be affected in your area.  

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF):

The LWCF program is a reimbursement program, so immediate impacts are unlikely. However, staff being furloughed during the shutdown may potentially create a backlog in the project approval system.  

What you should do: Contact your state LWCF grant administrator or primary point of contact. 

NRPA will continue to track these developments and share updates to this blog post as the situation evolves. Our goal is to help you understand how federal decisions may affect the programs and communities you serve.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at advocacy@nrpa.org.

Kyle Simpson is NRPA's director of public policy and advocacy.