Shutdown continues as new Congress begins
Parts of the federal government shut down on December 22, 2018 and remain closed following stalled funding negotiations in Congress. About a quarter of the government, including HUD and USDA, remains affected by the shutdown; most agency staff have been on furlough since before the holidays, and agency ability to make payments on contract renewals hinges on existing and available budget authority. A longer shutdown will be more serious for owners/agents and tenants, agency staff, and overall program operations.
Meanwhile, the 116th Congress kicked off this week, and newly elected Members of Congress were sworn in amid renewed momentum to reach a funding deal for Fiscal Year 2019. On Thursday, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a package of non-controversial Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills to fund the affected agencies, including funding for HUD and USDA rental assistance programs. However, without funding included for a border wall, the Republican-controlled Senate is not expected to take up the bills at this time.
Following a fruitless meeting today between Congressional leaders and the White House, some leaders in Washington are bracing themselves for a protracted shutdown. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that staff members plan to continue negotiations with White House officials over the weekend; according to McConnell, if an agreement were reached over the weekend, the earliest the government could reopen would be Tuesday of next week.
Is the shutdown impacting your operations, your staff, or your tenants? Please let us know so that we can relay the message to decision-makers in Washington. NAHMA continues to urge Congress and the White House to come to an agreement for full-year funding, and we will keep members up to date.