The federal government shutdown has had minimal affect on residents and workers in the Golden Triangle.
The shutdown went into affect just after midnight Dec. 22 following a partisan stalemate over a spending bill in Congress.
Facilities at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee Wildlife Refuge, like all units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, are closed. A message on the refuge’s website says that while access to the refuge that doesn’t require government employees is allowed, that access is at the visitor’s sole risk.
Otherwise it’s work as usual for most federal employees in the area. All employees at Columbus Air Force Base are still at work with usual pay, or have taken leave just for the holidays, said a CAFB spokesperson Friday. The spokesperson added the shutdown did not affect the Department of Defense whose budget was set before Dec. 22.
Likewise air traffic controllers at Golden Triangle Regional Airport are exempt from the shutdown, according to GTR Director Mike Hainsey. Area postal workers are also not affected.
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