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But meanwhile, the Highway Trust Fund – which is funded primarily by a gasoline tax – will not be able to commit new funds or provide new grants for projects until an authorization is issued. The 4,000 DOT employees whose salaries are paid out of this trust fund will be on leave from Friday, and some services will likely be suspended, although no security-critical functions will be affected.
However, the bulk of the department’s employees remain unaffected, as most of their salaries are paid out of earmarked funds. Air traffic controllers and other aviation related functions are not included in any of the closure dramas.
In short, the impacts on the public will probably be minimal if the closure lasts only a few days.
The patch: A Plan B for surface transportation programs was not included in the continuing resolution for appropriations that Congress approved on Thursday. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) And Shelley Moore Capito (DW.Va.) said they were considering a solution, but Capito told POLITICO on Thursday evening that senators were waiting for the House to send a bill to extend surface transport programs to them.
“We are going to react to whatever they do,” she said.
She said transport officials from both chambers were in communication over the length of an extension.
“It could be until the end of October,” she said. “We don’t know if the speaker could try to get a shorter term. “
The Senate adjourned Thursday night and does not plan to hold votes until Monday, but passing something by unanimous consent is possible.
And after: The House will meet on Friday to try to find a deal on the biggest infrastructure bill.
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