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Workers prepare for looming federal government shutdown
As Sept. 30 budget deadline looms in Washington, federal government employees prepare for the worst-case scenario.
MINNEAPOLIS — The political drama playing out in the nation’s capitol is reverberating in Minnesota, as the state’s 20,000 federal workers brace for a potential Oct. 1 federal government shutdown.
Congress has until Sept. 30 just to pass a continuing resolution to keep the federal government running at full steam for another month. Eventually, it will be come down to last-minute negotiations between the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate, but as of Wednesday, House Republicans still weren’t on the same page with each other.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been negotiating with the conservative House Freedom Caucus, a group of GOP House members demanding concessions in exchange for their “yes” votes on the budget. Even a vote on rules motion to set up a vote on the Department of Defense budget failed to get the needed votes.
“This is an unnecessary crisis that the Republicans have created. I’m shocked that they’re not feeling the weight of what’s happening with their conference, and their majority,” US Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who belongs to the Progressive Caucus, told KARE.
“I just hope that Kevin McCarthy somehow develops a backbone and stands up for the American people and negotiates with us so that we can help make sure there is no shutdown and deliver the votes for him.”
An estimated 800,000 federal workers would be furloughed or required to work without pay in the event of a shutdown. Some federal services would continue while others, such as processing new claims and benefits would slow down or be put on pause.
Fellow Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig Wednesday introduced a bill that would suspend pay for members of Congress during a government shutdown.
“In a shutdown, our air traffic controllers have to come to work every day and they don’t get paid. Our TSA agents have to come to work every day and they don’t get paid,” Rep. Craig told KARE.
“Members of Congress, the very people who couldn’t come to some sort of agreement, they get paid during a government shutdown. So, I just think philosophically it is so wrong.”
Craig serves on the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus along with fellow Minnesota Democrat Dean Phillips. The group is working behind the scenes to come up with ways to solve the budget deadlock.
“The White House and Democrats negotiated in good faith with Speaker McCarthy, shook hands, and reached a deal this summer to prevent the very quagmire in which America now finds itself,” Rep. Phillips told KARE.
“As a member of the House Democratic leadership team and the Problem Solvers Caucus, I’m working tirelessly with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to prevent an unnecessary and inexcusable shutdown.”
McCarthy told Capitol reporters he’s doing all he can to avert a shutdown, but that part of the responsibility lies with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to present compromise budget plans that can win support in both the House and Senate.
Some Republicans see the threat of a shutdown as leverage to downsize the federal government and chip away at the nation’s $33 trillion debt. One proposal that’s been floated is an eight percent cut in government spending, except for the Department of Defense.
But that plan didn’t commit new funds to supporting the allied efforts to defend Ukraine. And it very likely would be dead on arrival in the Senate.
KARE reached out to all four Republican members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation but as by story deadline, none had responded to our inquiries.
Federal workers in Minnesota say they’re weary of the uncertainty in Washington over whether paychecks will still flow or they’ll have what they need to serve the public.
“Like many people, I’m nervous, anxious. This is going to affect not only the VA but the entire American people,” said Jake Roman, a Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital nurse who heads the American Federal Government Employees Local 3669 union.
He said the VA will continue to accept and treat patients, and nurses and doctors would continue to work. But he worries about the strain on employees and patients because the shutdown would force a temporary hiring freeze in a medical system that is already understaffed.
“You’re going to have people burning out more. You’re going to have higher turnover,” Roman told KARE.
“We’re hired to be healthcare professionals. We’re hired to take care of our veterans. We’re not hired to be political pawns in some game.”
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Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, shares his project to connect humanity through stories.
MINNEAPOLIS — In the busy intersections of life, some moments are often overlooked, while others are ignored.
Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, sees these intersections as opportunities for connecting and understanding.
“Three years ago, I just got a heart for this,” Morrison said, explaining that overlooking these moments was never an option. “Some might say it’s a calling that I was just compelled,” he shared, describing his deep motivation.
This project, “Will You See Me?” shares stories of people who are often unseen, aiming to create connections and build empathy. With each story, photograph and encounter, the team hopes to bring dignity and significance to every life they touch.
Ultimately, they plan to compile these stories and images into a book to serve as a powerful testament to the human experience.
“How can we not make it just an excursion but an encounter? How can we give dignity and significance a listening ear of understanding?” Morrison asked, hoping the project fosters empathy through shared narratives.
One participant, Wade Smith, reflected on the range of life experiences among the project’s subjects.
“I went to radio and television broadcasting school, yeah, and then I went to the service,” Smith shared.
Morrison’s approach includes photographing and recording participants’ words, preserving their voices authentically.
After initial challenges finding collaborators, Shawn Nielsen, owner of Nielsen Studios, and Elizabeth Korth, owner of Narrative Nuance, joined Morrison in his mission. Together, they approach individuals directly, offering respect, gift cards and a chance to be truly seen.
“People don’t even look at me,” Smith said. “It’s a problem for all Americans.”
Through each encounter, Morrison hopes to leave lasting impressions.
“I’m hoping that the people of our community start to see things differently, and they might ask this question, ‘What can I do?’” Morrison said.
Dre Woods, another participant, spoke about his family and dreams. Woods asked for help to take care of his four-legged companion, Oreo.
“I’m trying to feed her, right? That’s my baby,” Woods shared, revealing the motivations that guide him.
Dozens of stories and plenty of surprises, all things that give an often unshared perspective.
“I be asking God what it is why I’m still here. A lot of my friends not hear no more and I think about that,” Woods said.
Each interaction serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared connections.
“I think that it would encourage someone to do just something once. Each person could do something one day at a time, to be profound,” Nielsen said.
For Morrison, these stories are part of a larger mission.
“Boy, has there been a rest of the story for some of these beautiful people,” he said, hoping to inspire others to view their communities with fresh eyes.
Each moment and interaction serves as a call to action: look closer; adjust the community’s vision; and see the intersection they pass by more clearly — as part of their own destination.
Head to the Marcus West End Cinema to see some of this year’s up-and-coming movies.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — Editor’s Note: This video originally aired on Oct. 12, 2024.
Just in time for Halloween, the Twin Cities Film Fest has arrived and it features a movie perfect for spooky season.
“Don’t Move” will screen as part of the festival at 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Home grown directors Brian Netto and Adam Schindler visited KARE 11 News at Noon to share more about the showing.
The film is a thriller about a woman who is injected with a paralytic agent in a forest. She must fight for her life as her body slowly shuts down, according to a Twin Cities Film Fest release.
Netto and Schindler met at Woodbury Elementary School and have remained friends to this day. This will be their third film shown at the fest.
Tickets are $13 and you can learn more about this movie at this link. All film festival movies will be screened at the Marcus West End Cinema in St. Louis Park .
PRINCETON, Minn. — As many families fell on hard times due to hurricanes Helene and Milton, their pets have suffered too.
Ruff Start Rescue, headquartered in Princeton, Minn., rescued 24 animals from areas in Tennessee and North Carolina that were hit by hurricanes. Azure Davis, the founder and executive director, visited the KARE 11 studio to share more about these animals and how you can help.
For more information on Ruff Start Rescue and to look at adoptable animals, click here.
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