A partial government shutdown closed services at many national public lands Wednesday and could be felt by food programs for mothers and children, as well as local highway projects if it drags on too long.
While the shutdown started Friday, yesterday marked the first day many employees of the nine impacted federal departments were back at work after a weekend and Christmas holiday.
The effects could reach far beyond the furloughed departments, according to local officials. Some state programs could see their funding sources dry up, they say, if Congress and the president are unable to come to an agreement on a spending bill.
Missouri's supplemental nutrition effort, WIC, and some local Missouri Department of Transportation projects are among those programs that could run out of money in the long-term.
WIC operations for the 1,750 Butler County mothers and children are well funded for the short-term, but no one has defined what short-term really means, said Robert Hudson, BCHD administrator.
"Long-term we do not know what's going to happen," Hudson said.
Families with children up to age 5, who meet income requirements, receive dairy products, proteins such as beans and peanut butter, and fruits and vegetables through WIC, as well as formula.
The Missouri Department of Transportation also does not expect to see impacts locally in a short-term shutdown, said area engineer David Wyman.
"If it's long-term, our federal partners are not showing up to work right now. A lot of (projects) require local spending and get reimbursed. If federal partners are not there to process the requests, that won't get done," Wyman said.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge have both issued notices that their lands remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures.
There will be no park service provided visitor services, including public information, maintenance or janitorial work at campgrounds, the Riverways said.
"Emergency and rescue services may be limited, however law enforcement rangers will remain on duty to provide essential visitor and resource protection," the park service reported.
Access to Mingo remains in areas that do not require the presence of a federal employee or contractor, according to a press release from that agency.
"Any entry onto Refuge System property during this period of federal government shutdown is at the visitor's sole risk," the release notes.
A recording left Saturday at Mark Twain National Forest tells callers messages will be returned after funding is restored.
The nine impacted federal departments are Treasury, Agriculture, Homeland Security, Interior, State, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Commerce and Justice.