Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts

April 6, 2011 – December 21, 2018 R41723

Contacting CRS Subject Matter Experts

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. 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.

Primarily Legal Questions

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 .

A government shutdown is different from a debt limit impasse. 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.

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 bills^a
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

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.