The Carlsbad City Council legislative subcommittee heard updates Tuesday on how the federal government shutdown is affecting local residents and programs, including a postponed FAA roundtable and the prospect that some federal workers will miss paychecks beginning Oct. 15.

Field representative Salome Tash, of Congressman Mike Levin’s office, told the subcommittee the congressman has returned to Washington to negotiate reopening the government and highlighted constituent assistance the office is continuing to provide despite reduced federal responsiveness. She said an FAA webinar that had been scheduled for Oct. 22 was postponed because of the shutdown and will be rescheduled once agencies reopen.

Federal government relations consultants David Wetmore and Laura Morgan Kessler of Carpe and Clay described the shutdown’s broad effects. They said essential employees continue to work without pay while nonessential employees are furloughed; the White House has directed some short-term funding shifts, and more than 4,000 government workers reportedly received reduction-in-force notices. Wetmore said the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program serves about 6,000,000 people a month and that the administration has directed new tariff revenues toward WIC while legal analysts debate whether that redirection requires congressional action.

Wetmore added that the administration is directing the Department of Defense to find funds so active-duty military receive paychecks, and similar measures are being taken for the Coast Guard. He said these steps have been reported publicly but that the legal and budgetary mechanics are not fully clear.

Council members pressed for clarity on operational impacts. Council member Burkholder asked whether military and federal employee pay redirections required congressional action; Carpe and Clay said some legal analysts think congressional action is required, while others say the administration can take near-term steps and legal questions can be addressed afterward. Burkholder and other members noted local support services such as banks and credit unions are offering short-term lending and other relief to federal workers.

The subcommittee also discussed air travel safety and staffing, with Tash and consultants noting that air traffic controllers continue to be treated as essential personnel but that lack of pay can lead to increased absences and service disruptions. Subcommittee members said they had heard reports of delayed flights and that the postponed FAA webinar had been expected to address local concerns.

The subcommittee received no formal direction or vote on the shutdown; members asked staff to track developments and rescheduling of the FAA webinar. The committee’s next legislative subcommittee meeting was scheduled for Nov. 18 because of the Veterans Day holiday.

Ending: Subcommittee members said they will monitor federal actions and keep the city informed about rescheduling of the FAA webinar and any changes to federal programs affecting Carlsbad residents.