Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

Updated December 21, 2018 (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 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

agencies and programs funded by specific regular appropriations bills;

cross-cutting shutdown issues;

domestic social policy-related programs and agencies;

foreign affairs, defense, and trade-related programs and agencies;

general government-related programs and agencies; and

resources, science, and technology-related programs and agencies.

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.

For primarily legal questions, please submit a request to the CRS American Law Division by

calling CRS at 7-5700, or

using the "place a request" function on the CRS website.

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 Justin Murray.

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 Justin Murray.

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 Jared C. Nagel and Justin Murray.

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 Clinton T. Brass.

For information about funding gaps, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview, by James V. Saturno.

For information about continuing resolutions (CRs) and related historical practices, see CRS Report R42647, Continuing Resolutions: Overview of Components and Recent Practices, by James V. Saturno.

Table 1. Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

Legislative Issues

Name/Title

Phone

Email

Agencies and programs funded by regular appropriations billsa

Coordinator for Agriculture and related agencies appropriations

Jim Monke
Specialist in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

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

Nathan James (Justice)
Analyst in Crime Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Jennifer D. Williams (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

Pat Towell
Specialist in U.S. Defense Policy and Budget

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for Energy and water development appropriations

Mark Holt
Specialist in Energy Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for financial services and general government appropriations

Baird Webel
Specialist in Financial Economics

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for Homeland Security Department appropriations

William L. Painter
Specialist in Homeland Security and Appropriations

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for Interior, environment, and related agencies appropriations

Carol Hardy Vincent
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Robert Esworthy (Environmental Protection Agency)
Specialist in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

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

Karen E. Lynch (overall/HHS)
Specialist in Social Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Jessica Tollestrup (overall/HHS)
Specialist in Social Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

David H. Bradley (Labor)
Specialist in Labor Economics

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Agata Dabrowska (public health)
Analyst in Health Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Kyle Shohfi (Education)
Analyst in Education Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

William R. Morton (Social Security)
Analyst in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinator for legislative branch appropriations

Ida A. Brudnick
Specialist on the Congress

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

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

Michael J. Vassalotti
Section Research Manager

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Sidath Viranga Panangala
Specialist in Veterans Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Coordinators for State, foreign operations, and related programs appropriations

Susan B. Epstein
Specialist in Foreign Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Marian L. Lawson
Specialist in Foreign Assistance Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Cory R. Gill
Analyst in Foreign Affairs

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

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

Maggie McCarty
Specialist in Housing Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

David Randall Peterman
Analyst in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Cross-cutting shutdown issues

Congressional operations and congressional procedure

Ida A. Brudnick (operations)
Specialist on the Congress

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

R. Eric Petersen (operations)
Specialist in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

James M. Specht (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]

Judiciary operations and budget

Barry J. McMillion
Analyst in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal grants-in-aid

Natalie Keegan
Analyst in American Federalism and Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

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

James V. Saturno
Specialist on Congress and the Legislative Process

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Economic and financial market issues

D. Andrew Austin
Analyst in Economic Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Marc Labonte
Specialist in Macroeconomic Policy

[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)

David P. Smole
Specialist in Education Policy and Acting Division Research Coordinator

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges

Vanessa C. Forsberg
Analyst in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)

Ryan J. Rosso
Analyst in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal employee retirement benefits (CSRS/FERS)

Katelin P. Isaacs
Specialist in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Medicaid

Alison Mitchell
Specialist in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Medicare

Patricia A. Davis
Specialist in Health Care Financing

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Social Security

Dawn Nuschler
Specialist in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

William R. Morton
Analyst in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Randy Alison Aussenberg
Specialist in Nutrition Assistance Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Unemployment insurance

Julie M. Whittaker
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

Sidath Viranga Panangala
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)

Marian L. Lawson
Specialist in Foreign Assistance Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Department of Defense (DOD) operations

Michael J. Vassalotti
Section Research Manager

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

General government-related programs and agencies

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

Will R. Garrard
Section Research Manager

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Barbara L. Schwemle
Analyst in American National Government

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax-related operations

Gary Guenther
Analyst in Public Finance

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

Barbara L. Schwemle
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)

Barbara L. Schwemle
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)

Steven M. Lev
Deputy Assistant Director and Specialist/Resources, Science, and Industry

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

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

Bart Elias
Specialist in Aviation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Highway spending issues

Robert S. Kirk
Specialist in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Food safety issues

Renée Johnson
Specialist in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Joel L. Greene
Analyst in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Nuclear safety issues

Mark Holt
Specialist in Energy Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Note:

a. 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 Justin Murray.

Author Contact Information

Clinton T. Brass, 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 D. Andrew Austin et al.