Thread by @stevenportnoy

WHAT'S A "PARTIAL" SHUTDOWN?

Keep in mind, the following agencies have been fully funded thru FY19 and would NOT shut down:

DOD / VA / Education / Energy / Labor / HHS (mostly) / Legislative Agencies

But a shutdown would affect:

State / Homeland Security / Justice / Transportation / Treasury / HUD / USDA / FDA / Interior / EPA / Judiciary / DC Govt / Independent Agencies / White House

Rules on who is "essential" aren't consistent from agency to agency. FDA food inspectors could be furloughed, but USDA food inspectors would stay on the job.

NASA would be affected by the shut down, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would stay open, fully funded.

It's quite random. And confounding for those of us charged with explaining it. Good luck, writers!

This is happening because Congress only finished working on SOME of the appropriations bills that fund the federal agencies.

The ones that were left on the table cover the agencies that would shut down tonight.

Anyway, that's why you'll hear the phrase "partial shutdown."

And Commerce!