Moore warns Utahns of shutdown effects on federal workers, outlines what his office can do

Representative Blake Moore hosted a telephone town hall Monday to brief constituents on the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1 and to answer questions about how it could affect families and federal employees in Utah's First Congressional District.

“This shutdown has real impacts for Utahns and their families,” Moore said, adding that his office has been fielding calls "the last few weeks" and that he organized the call to explain “what my office can do to serve you during this time.”

Moore described how the appropriations process works and why a shutdown occurred: the U.S. House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding at current levels through Nov. 21, but the Senate rejected that CR on Sept. 30, leading to a lapse in appropriations at the start of the new fiscal year. He said the House bill would have given more time to finish work on 12 appropriations bills and that those bills must be identical in both chambers before going to the president.

He warned of near-term effects on federal employees and services in the district. Moore said active-duty service members could miss their first paycheck in the Oct. 15 pay period and recounted conversations with Hill Air Force Base leadership about families at home who rely on military pay while a service member is deployed. Moore also named local federal employees who will be affected, saying the district has “almost 7,000 IRS employees in Ogden,” plus TSA staff, the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service personnel and air traffic controllers.

Moore noted some federal programs and services could pause during a shutdown, specifically citing the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program (WIC) as one program that could be put on hold. He urged affected residents to contact his district office for help and said his staff will keep communicating developments.

On back pay for furloughed workers, Moore said he has pressed administration and congressional contacts but did not offer a definitive guarantee. He said Speaker Mike Johnson has spoken in favor of back pay and Moore referenced a 2019 law that he said would be relevant; he also said he expects legal analyses will inform how back pay is handled. “I will fight for this,” Moore said.

Constituents asked whether members of Congress should forfeit pay during a shutdown; Moore said he submitted a request to have his pay frozen and that his staff are not receiving pay while the shutdown continues, as a gesture of solidarity with furloughed employees.

Moore urged constituents to sign up for his weekly newsletter for updates and said his district office is reaching out to federal facilities to coordinate assistance, though some onsite meetings with employees have been restricted because agencies are operating only for essential activity.

The congressman emphasized the procedural causes of shutdowns: differences between House and Senate versions of appropriations bills and the Senate's 60-vote threshold to end debate. He called for finishing the appropriations work by negotiating the 12 bills but said that a CR to Nov. 21 would have provided more time. Moore said he hoped progress in the Senate would permit finalizing funding rather than prolonging the shutdown.

Moore closed by urging patience and continued engagement with his office while officials work on federal funding and constituent services.