USPS: Govt. Shutdown Won’t Affect Contractors

The specter of a partial government shutdown won’t affect postal operations, including contracting, according to a USPS representative. 

The Postal Service’s status as an independent entity — meaning it is generally self funded — will ensure operations and payments to contractors will continue unabated, the spokesman explained. 

If Congress is unable to break a stalemate over government funding by Oct. 1 — the start of a new federal fiscal year — many other federal agencies will have to furlough non-essential workers. 

A continuing resolution to keep the government open through Nov. 17 cleared the Senate on Sept. 26. However, the measure still has to clear the House, which is charting its own course by voting to fund select government sectors in separate bills. Neither solution is viable unless both houses of Congress approve it and the president signs it into law.   

In a Sept. 26 statement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the resolution a “temporary solution” that would allow the government to stay open while work continues towards a longer-term agreement. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stated that “government shutdowns are bad news” and one occurring would create an “unnecessary disruption.”