How the shutdown is hitting Northern California as fallout begins

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — A partial government shutdown is now underway, and in Northern California the effects could be felt at Travis and Beale Air Force Bases.

Both bases will remain open, and military members will keep working, but without pay. 

Beale Air Force Base statement: “While we remain hopeful for the timely passage of the FY26 Appropriations Bill to provide stable and predictable funding, it’s important to understand the potential impacts should the Department of the Air Force operate under a lapse in appropriation in FY26. A lapse in appropriation, depending on its length, could significantly impact our readiness, modernization efforts, and overall ability to maintain technological superiority.

Every member of the Department of the Air Force is crucial to accomplishing our mission, and we remain hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. Should a shutdown occur, daily functions will continue, accomplished by active-duty Airmen and Guardians.

Travis officials said civilian employees not performing exempt duties will begin an orderly shutdown starting Oct. 1, while active-duty members and certain civilians will continue working unpaid.

Travis Air Force Base Statement: “The Anti-deficiency Act (ADA) prohibits Federal agencies from incurring obligations that are in advance of, or that exceed, an appropriation. In the event of a lapse in appropriations, all activities chargeable to lapsed appropriations, not otherwise excepted, will cease. Civilian employees not performing exempt or excepted activities will begin an orderly shutdown and code timesheets as furlough beginning October 1. Our active duty members and civilians performing excepted activities will ensure continuity of Travis Air Force Base’s mission, providing rapid global mobility through strategic airlift and air refueling operations world-wide.

While our military members will not be subject to furlough, they will not receive pay for work performed after 30 Sep 2025 until an appropriation or Continuing Resolution is passed. Nevertheless, our leadership team is committed to guiding our Airmen and civilians through this process and providing support where it is needed. Members who find themselves in financial difficulties should notify their supervisor, first sergeant and commander who can provide information on financial aid.”

Union leaders said that leaves thousands of federal employees caught in the middle. 

“This has been happening for seems like the past eight years now,” said Steven Gutierrez of the National Federation of Federal Employees. 

He said firefighters and others will be working without a paycheck. 

“Can you pay your bills for 35 straight days without getting a paycheck and still having to drive into work? Can you imagine like you are going to go fight a wildfire and you know that you are protecting communities and you’re not getting paid for it at that moment?” Gutierrez said.

The last shutdown in December 2018-January 2019, the longest in U.S. history, stretched on for more than a month, leaving workers without paychecks, triggering airport delays, debt and forcing people to take second jobs.

Rep. Ami Bera, a Democrat representing Sacramento County, said the impact of another shutdown would be widespread. 

“Nobody wins a government shutdown. The American people lose,” Bera said. 

His office noted there are nearly 5,000 federal workers in his district. Even if Social Security and veterans’ benefits continue, Bera said families may still face delays.

Gutierrez said many workers won’t be able to endure long without pay. 

“At a certain point, it’s going to get to, hey, I need to put food on the table, and I’m going to have to get a second job at night… to make ends meet,” he said.

While members of Congress and the president would still receive pay, federal employees and military service members would eventually receive back pay. But, as Gutierrez pointed out, that doesn’t help when rent is due.

WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | What a government shutdown means for federal workers and families