Don't expect much -- if any -- disruption to your driving duties because of the shutdown of the federal government, which began at midnight.
Several agencies affecting trucking, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, remain open and operating. These agencies and several others in the DOT are funded by the Highway Trust Fund and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and not normal appropriations from Congress.
See the DOT's complete plan for closing here.
All 1,084 FMCSA employees remain on the job and are being paid, unlike many essential government employees are on the job but will receive no paycheck. However, those employees will be paid once the shutdown ends.
Some 21 FMCSA employees are not working because they are under the Deferred Resignation Program.
Crossings at the Mexico and Canada borders will not be affected by the closing. Most Customs and Border Protection workers are considered essential and will remain on the job without pay.
This is the first government shutdown since 2018-2019 when it was closed for 35 days. This was during Trump's first term in office.
The shutdown occurred because of a conflict between House Democrats and Republicans, who could not agree on provisions of a spending bill. A meeting Tuesday between the leaders of both parties and President Donald Trump ended with no agreement.
