Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

September 30, 2015 (R41723)

In the event of a funding gap, the potential impacts of a government shutdown would depend on a program's or agency's specific circumstances and, furthermore, how relevant law is interpreted. Table 1 provides names and contact information for CRS subject matter experts on policy concerns and legal issues relating to funding gaps and the processes and effects that may be associated with a government shutdown.1 Policy areas that are identified in Table 1 include

For questions concerning the impact of a shutdown on a specific agency or program that is not listed here, see the contact information for the listed "coordinators," who will help to identify the relevant subject matter expert. See also the notes under Table 1 for additional CRS resources.

Additional Online and Written Resources

CRS Website: Appropriations Status Table

For information about the status of funding for particular agencies and programs, see the CRS "Appropriations Status Table" at http://www.crs.gov/AppropriationsStatusTable/Index. Under the "Regular Appropriations" tab, the left-hand column lists the CRS reports that cover each appropriations bill. The end of each report contains contact information for CRS subject matter experts who cover agencies and programs that are funded by each bill; see a report's "Key Policy Staff" table and list of authors, as applicable. To identify which appropriations bill provides funding for a specific agency or program, see CRS Report R40858, Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills, by [author name scrubbed].

CRS Reports

For an annotated list of CRS resources related to the FY2014 shutdown, see CRS Report R43250, CRS Resources on the FY2014 Funding Gap, Shutdown, and Status of Appropriations, by [author name scrubbed].

For an annotated list of CRS and non-CRS resources related to past government shutdowns, including the FY2014 shutdown, see CRS Report R41759, Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

For general information about the causes, processes, and effects of government shutdowns, see CRS Report RL34680, Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].

For information about funding gaps, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview, by [author name scrubbed].

For information about continuing resolutions (CRs) and related historical practices, see CRS Report R42647, Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components and Recent Practices, by [author name scrubbed].

Table 1. Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

Legislative Issues

Name/Title

Phone

E-mail

Agencies and programs funded by regular appropriations billsa

Coordinator for Agriculture and related agencies appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for Commerce, Justice, science, and related agencies appropriations

[author name scrubbed] (Justice)
Analyst in Crime Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed] (Commerce)
Specialist in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

John F. Sargent, Jr. (science agencies)
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for Defense appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for Energy and water development appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Energy Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for financial services and general government appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Financial Economics

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for Homeland Security Department appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for Interior, environment, and related agencies appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations

[author name scrubbed] (overall/HHS)
Specialist in Social Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed] (Labor)
Specialist in Labor Economics

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed] (public health, ACA)
Specialist in Health Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed] (Education)
Specialist in Social Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Scott Szymendera (Social Security)
Analyst in Disability Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for legislative branch appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist on the Congress

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for military construction, Veterans Affairs, and related agencies appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in National Defense

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Veterans Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for State, foreign operations, and related programs appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Foreign Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Foreign Affairs

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Foreign Assistance Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies appropriations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Housing Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Cross-cutting shutdown issues

Congressional operations and congressional procedure

[author name scrubbed] (operations)
Specialist on the Congress

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed] (operations)
Specialist in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Kathleen Murphy (procedure)
Section Research Manager

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Executive branch operations

Clinton T. Brass
Specialist in Government Organization and Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Government Organization and Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Judiciary operations and budget

Barry J. McMillion (operations)
Analyst on the Federal Judiciary

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Matthew Eric Glassman (budget)
Analyst on the Congress

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Legal issues (appropriations law)

[author name scrubbed]
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Legal issues (government contracts law)

[author name scrubbed]
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal grants-in-aid

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in American Federalism and Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Legal issues (federal grants law)

[author name scrubbed]
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Funding gaps, continuing resolutions (CRs), and congressional budget process

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist on Congress and the Legislative Process

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Economic and financial market issues

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Economic Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Financial Economics

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

National security concerns during shutdown period

John Rollins
Specialist in Terrorism and National Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Domestic social policy-related programs and agencies

Coordinators
(will help identify subject matter experts for unlisted areas)

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Domestic Social Policy and Division Research Coordinator

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Deputy Assistant Director/Domestic Social Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Health Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Education and job training programs

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Social Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)

Kirstin B. Blom
Analyst in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal employee retirement benefits (CSRS/FERS)

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Medicaid

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Medicare

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Social Security

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Nutrition Assistance Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Unemployment insurance

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Veterans benefits

Scott Szymendera
Analyst in Disability Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Veterans health care and medical research

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Veterans Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Foreign affairs, defense, and trade-related programs and agencies

Coordinator
(will help identify subject matter experts for unlisted areas)

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Foreign Assistance Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Department of Defense (DOD) operations

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

General government-related programs and agencies

Coordinator
(will help identify subject matter experts for unlisted areas)

[author name scrubbed]
Section Research Manager

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax-related operations

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in Public Finance

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Clinton T. Brass
Specialist in Government Organization and Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

[author name scrubbed]
Analyst in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Resources, science, and technology-related programs and agencies

Coordinator
(will help identify subject matter experts for unlisted areas)

[author name scrubbed]
Section Research Manager

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Air safety, air traffic control, aviation/airport security, and screening issues

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Aviation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Highway spending issues

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Food safety issues

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Nuclear safety issues

[author name scrubbed]
Specialist in Energy Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Notes:

a. For information about the status of funding for particular agencies and programs, see the CRS "Appropriations Status Table" at http://crs.gov/pages/AppropriationsStatusTable.aspx. Under the "Regular Appropriations" tab, the left-hand column lists the CRS reports that cover each appropriations bill. The end of each report contains contact information for CRS subject matter experts who cover agencies and programs that are funded by each bill; see a report's "Key Policy Staff" table and list of authors, as applicable. To identify which appropriations bill provides funding for a specific agency or program, see CRS Report R40858, Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills, by [author name scrubbed].

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Coordinator, Specialist in Government Organization and Management ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Footnotes

1.

A government shutdown is different from a debt limit impasse. A debt limit impasse occurs if the federal government no longer has the ability to borrow to finance its obligations and runs out of cash to liquidate all of the obligations that would result in federal outlays. For more information about the debt limit issue, see CRS Report R41633, Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations, by [author name scrubbed] et al.