Within the nation’s most impoverished massive metropolis, San Antonio leaders have lengthy identified that federal spending cuts would finally rock their group’s world, doubtlessly leaving cash-strapped native governments scrambling to choose up the invoice.
Now a federal authorities shutdown aimed toward forcing robust conversations on such cuts — like whether or not to proceed well being care subsidies that expire on the finish of the 12 months — is bringing that fiscal cliff nearer to actuality.
As of Wednesday, when the federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m., the total impression of the Trump Administration’s deliberate cuts to social safety-net kind packages like Medicaid and meals stamps nonetheless have but to be felt.
Congress hasn’t been in a position to cross a spending invoice because the new administration took workplace, and stopgap spending measures have to this point continued widespread packages that the administration deliberate to intestine.
Somewhat than hold that going — one thing congressional Republicans hope may provide time to melt unpopular cuts earlier than the 2026 midterm election — Democrats wish to have that battle now, and are utilizing their restricted leverage to take action.
Republicans management each homes of Congress and the White Home, however a stopgap measure wants 60 votes within the U.S. Senate, the place they solely management a slender majority of 53 seats.
“From the primary day the administration got here in, they began holding again funds that we had already appropriated … [Then] they handed what they name the Large Lovely Invoice, the place they’re going to be slicing over a trillion {dollars} from Medicaid,” U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), who serves on the Home Appropriation Committee, instructed reporters Tuesday.
Now Republicans’ plans for a unbroken decision left Democrats out of the method, Cuellar stated, and the urge for food to maintain serving to the GOP delay robust choices has evaporated. A stopgap measure has now twice failed to achieve sufficient help within the Senate — together with a vote Wednesday after the shutdown began.
San Antonio’s different appropriator, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio), has been among the many Republicans urging warning on huge cuts to the social security internet.
Whereas Gonzales supported utilizing one other stopgap to maintain the federal government from shutting down this month, he too needs colleagues to hash out these choices via the common channels.
Congress has already handed spending payments out of committee, he famous, however leaders want to return collectively on a model that may make it via each chambers — which might put an finish to the shutdown.
“Congress’ core accountability is to ship an annual finances,” Gonzales stated. “That is political theater, and it’ll damage many American households.”
Within the meantime, the standard shutdown pains will set in as extra time passes. They’ve develop into more and more widespread in divided Washington, with the longest one stretching 35 days in 2018.
How the shutdown impacts San Antonio
In San Antonio, which has many federal staff, these deemed important, corresponding to Division of Homeland Safety employees and lots of army positions, will proceed working however received’t be paid till the shutdown is over.
Employees deemed “nonessential” received’t be working in any respect.
In an uncommon transfer, nevertheless, this time the White Home has threatened to fireside extra federal staff in order that remaining sources dwindle extra slowly.
On the metropolis, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has been beating the drum for native leaders to begin planning for federal cuts since getting into workplace this summer season.
San Antonio’s income sources have been flattening with low shopper confidence, she says, on the similar time it’s prone to take up rising wants.
Federal grants at present account for about $160 million of the town’s 2025-2026 finances, serving to pay for Metro Well being providers, housing initiatives, airport tasks and a few police officer salaries.
“It’s nearly like COVID is coming. … So how will we basically guarantee we’re greatest ready and postured to reply?” she stated throughout the metropolis’s August finances presentation.
The finances was accredited weeks later, with to this point little settlement on the place leaders would reduce.
Metropolis Supervisor Erik Walsh instructed reporters Wednesday that the town finances builds in cash to pay for federally funded packages up entrance, after which submit them for reimbursement later.
“It’s simply the way in which the federal authorities does it, … so the short-term impression [to us] is nothing,” Walsh stated.
The longer the shutdown goes on, nevertheless, the town might must determine what it needs to proceed funding and the right way to go about with native {dollars}.
“As a big group, we are able to proceed to fund these packages,” Walsh stated. “But when we go previous two or three months, we’ll begin to see some impacts.”
