With the federal government shutdown entering its 11th day, Gov. Rick Scott has ordered that no state funds should be used to fill the gap of federal programs that run out of cash, according to the Times/Herald bureau.
Some of the more critical programs that will run out of funds:
Adam Hollingsworth, Scott’s chief of staff, did not address what might happen to a handful of federal programs administered by the state that are expected to run out of money in the next four to seven days. Federal assistance programs that serve foster children, veterans programs, and small to medium-sized school districts are all expected to be short of cash, beginning Oct. 14, state documents show.
In addition, two state agencies that manage federal programs are in jeopardy of losing funding. Records show that 274 employees at the Department of Military Affairs are being furloughed and that the Florida Department of State Department next week will run out of money to pay the rent on some of its buildings.
While the status of programs that provide temporary assistance to poor women and children, such as TANF and SNAP, is unclear, other states are using state funds to offset these federally-funded programs.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel reports that Central Floridians are beginning to get angry over the government shutdown. And local constituents will gather outside the office of Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) later on Friday to demand that he votes to end it.
Late on Thursday, it appeared that a deal could be reached between Republicans, Democrats and the White House on raising the debt ceiling for a brief 6-week period, but when the federal government will re-open, is anyone’s guess.
