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A federal government shutdown likely won't be noticed in Michigan, at first

Credit steve carmody / Michigan Radio
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Michigan Radio

Michiganders will likely not notice much if there is a federal government shutdown at the end of this week.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says it's up to President Donald Trump whether the federal government partially shuts down at midnight Friday over his border wall.

Trump has said he'd be "proud" to have a shutdown over the $5 billion he wants for the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Asked Sunday if there was room for compromise, Schumer told NBC: "He's not going to get the wall in any form."

Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi have proposed no more than $1.6 billion. The money would not go for the wall but for fencing upgrades and other border security. Democrats also offered to keep funding at its current level, $1.3 billion.

Schumer says Trump doesn't have the votes from the Republican-controlled Congress to support $5 billion for the wall.

Without a deal to keep the money flowing, a partial government shutdown would begin next weekend. But with the Christmas holiday coming soon after, many of the agencies affected would likely not be fully functioning anyway.

Holiday travelers would still see TSA employees at Detroit Metro Airport and Customs and Border Protection agents at the Blue Water Bridge, though technically without pay.

If a deal isn’t reached, it will likely be after the first of the year before the effects of mandated employee furloughs and office closings will be felt.

A partial shutdown would affect services to Michigan farmers, small business owners and people getting FHA loans. 

Copyright 2018 Michigan Radio

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Radio since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting. During his two and a half decades in broadcasting, Steve has won numerous awards, including accolades from the Associated Press and Radio and Television News Directors Association. Away from the broadcast booth, Steve is an avid reader and movie fanatic. Q&A