The government shutdown impacts some, but not all federal services in Monterey County.

The federal government shut down at midnight on Thursday, Oct. 1, forcing hundreds of thousands of workers to do their duties without pay, while thousands more were furloughed and may be permanently terminated.

As the government remains dark, federal services provided in Monterey County will be hit-and-miss until Congress reaches a deal.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits will continue during the shutdown, while the U.S. Postal Service will continue to deliver mail and airports will remain in operation, if further short-staffed.

“Contingency plans” prepared by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service did not specifically list Fort Ord National Monument and Pinnacles National Park, only stating that in general, parks will remain open for now, yet restrooms may be closed and maintenance throughout the parks may cease during the shutdown.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to operate with minimal interruption. Usual services remain at the Major General William H. Gourley VA-DoD Outpatient Clinic in Marina.

District offices for the Congress members representing Monterey County—Jimmy Panetta in Monterey and Zoe Lofgren in Salinas—remain open to serve constituents, spokespersons say.

Many services at the Presidio of Monterey remain open or limited, according to the U.S. Army. However, a slew of functions are suspended, including retiree services, legal assistance, public affairs, survivor outreach and the Equal Employment Office, among others.

At the Naval Postgraduate School, military personnel continue with their normal duties without pay, while non-exempt civilian workers are furloughed.

County of Monterey spokesperson Maia Carroll says officials are assessing what impacts the shutdown may have on local operations, with more information to be released later.

“A federal government shutdown can have varying impacts at the county and local level, depending on how much a particular county depends on federal funding, contracts and programs,” she says, adding that some “essential” programs such as Social Security and Medicare continue. “But many discretionary programs, grants, inspections and administrative support functions may be suspended, delayed or scaled back.”