How Arizona is being affected by the federal government shutdown
The federal government shutdown is set to affect national parks, air travel and more in Arizona.
Yuma, Arizona offers financial help in shutdown
- Yuma is offering payment flexibility to residents affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Arizona is allowing furloughed federal employees to be considered eligible for unemployment insurance.
Arizona WIC clinics could be running out of federal funding
As the government shutdown drags into its third week, advocates continue to raise concerns over funding for federal food assistance programs.
Phoenix air traffic controllers receive shorted paychecks
- As the government shutdown drags on, air traffic controllers are feeling the stress and frustration of not knowing when they’ll stop working for free.
Federal work layoffs from shutdown begin, White House says
- The Trump administration says it has started the process of issuing reduction-in-force notices to federal employees. It's not clear how many agencies are affected or how many people.
Shutdown stalls Grand Canyon reconstruction bill
Much of the infrastructure on the North Rim has been destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire. The bill would grant the National Park Service emergency contracting powers.
Senate Republicans confirm William Kirkland
Senate Republicans confirmed William Kirkland among more than 100 Trump nominees along party lines — while Democrats, including Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, voted against it a week into the government shutdown.
WIC program is in limbo
- Nearly 153,000 of Arizona’s low-income mothers and their young children rely on WIC for monthly food assistance, nutrition education and breast feeding support. The government shutdown has put the program in limbo.
Grand Canyon employees face uncertainty
Employees considered "non-essential" at Grand Canyon National Park have been furloughed amid the federal government shutdown.
Kelly and Ciscomani agree on health care tax credits but clash on way forward
Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani held dueling press calls about the ongoing government shutdown Tuesday. Both affirmed support for extending health care tax credits but blamed the other party for stalling negotiations.
Air traffic controllers have been working for a week without pay
- At Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport – a hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines – more than 100 flights were delayed by late afternoon Tuesday, according to data from FlightAware.
Hatch Act complaints over partisan federal website messages are stalled during shutdown
- The Office of Special Counsel’s Hatch Act unit, which handles such complaints, has been furloughed. And the entire Merit Systems Protection Board – where OSC takes cases involving federal employees it wants disciplined for violating an 80-year-old ban on partisan activity – is closed for the duration of the shutdown, too.
What to know when visiting national parks during shutdown
The National Park Service said most roads and trails are open, but most buildings are closed. Some are confused about what they'll find when they arrive at any given park site.
Arizona Republican delegation want Kelly, Gallego to vote for GOP shutdown plan
Arizona’s Republican congressional delegation is calling on Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to support a GOP-backed plan to reopen the government that has repeatedly failed to garner the 60 votes it needs to pass the Senate.
Shutdown isn't hurting economy yet, Arizona expert says
- We’re coming up on a week since the federal government shutdown. And despite the uncertainty of its end, and the Trump administration’s threat to permanently lay off federal workers, the economy doesn’t seem to be fazed.
Saguaro National Park East gates closed on Wednesday
- Tourists from Europe and across the states were forced to turn around as they met the closed gates of Saguaro National Park East on Wednesday.
Shutdown has already delayed the jobs report. More critical reports could be held up
The government's monthly jobs report was not published Friday as a result of the federal shutdown. That's left businesses and policymakers in the dark about the strength of the U.S. job market.
GOP blames government shutdown on health care for undocumented people. That's false
The White House and GOP lawmakers say a provision in the Big Beautiful Bill that Democrats want rolled back keeps undocumented people from getting health benefits — a claim experts say is misleading.
Gallego tours Globe area and says: 'How can we help them recover?'
- After visiting Globe and Miami, Sen. Ruben Gallego said the government shutdown will not affect the flow of federal relief dollars into the communities as they recover from devastating flash floods.
Arizona nonprofits, food banks are bracing for uptick in demand
- Food banks and charities in Arizona are bracing for an expected increase in demand as workers affected by the current government shutdown start to seek assistance.
Federal wildfire workers 'have to work and still stress about how they're going to pay the bills'
Wildfire and other emergency response personnel will continue working during the federal government shutdown that began this week, but advocates warn that those workers could still be impacted.
Arizona national monument closes due to shutdown
- A few park rangers, like Cody Becker, patrolled the area, informing people of the closure and ensuring no one would enter the park. Occasionally, the rangers flashed car lights to get the visitors’ attention.
Some services delayed, workers furloughed on 1st full day of shutdown
On the first full day of the government shutdown Wednesday, downtown Washington remained lively.
Many federal workforce remained on the job, though nationwide roughly 750,000 are expected to be furloughed.
Tourists still flocked to the monuments and museums. But the National Zoo and other sites may only manage to stay open a few more days until funding runs out.
At the White House, President Donald Trump and top aides vowed mass layoffs unless Democrats give up demands to restore health care subsidies for millions of Americans.
“Two days, imminent, very soon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said about when layoffs of federal workers may begin. “There are unfortunate consequences to a federal shutdown.”
At the Capitol, tours were suspended.
Across the nation, furloughed workers faced uncertainty. Those deemed essential face the prospect of having to work without getting paid until the standoff ends.
But at the outset of the shutdown, the impact on the public was muted.
Many other government services are expected to continue despite the shutdown.
- Medicare and Medicaid: Payments will continue. New applications are likely to face delays.
- Social Security: Retirement and disability payments will continue uninterrupted. New applications will face delays.
- U.S. Postal Service: The mail will still be delivered and post offices will remain open.
- Air travel and security: Delays are possible, especially as the impasse persists, if unpaid air traffic controllers stop coming to work. Travelers may also face longer than usual security lines, also due to staffing shortages. During the 35-day shutdown in 2018 and early 2019, Transportation Security Administration officers called out of work at higher rates than usual.
- Food inspections and safety: Food inspections and lab testing will continue, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s contingency plan.
- Veterans benefits: Veterans benefits will continue to be delivered. VA medical centers will remain open and burials at veteran cemeteries will continue. But workers will have to wait until the budget standoff ends to get paid.
- Customs and Border Protection: CBP will continue to conduct cargo inspections but travelers may experience longer lines at ports of entry.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Deportation operations will proceed uninterrupted, according to ICE.
How will the government shutdown affect operations at Sky Harbor?
Even though the government is now shut down, people traveling to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport may not feel the impact just yet.
Grand Canyon is at risk during shutdown, former park superintendent says
Robert Arnberger served as superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park for six years in the '90s and signed a recent letter about the shutdown. He joined The Show to talk more about his concerns.
Grand Canyon's South Rim mostly open during shutdown
National parks, including the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, remained mostly open amid the government shutdown.
The South Rim Visitor Center is closed, leaving visitors to gather trip planning and hiking information through outdoor exhibits and signs.
About 64% of Park Service staff are expected to be furloughed beginning Wednesday.
Unlike her Republican predecessors, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs says she won’t spend state funds to keep Arizona landmarks like Grand Canyon National Park open amid a federal government shutdown.
During the federal government shutdown, this account will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources.
— Grand Canyon NPS (@GrandCanyonNPS) October 1, 2025
Grand Canyon National Park is open; however, some visitor services may be reduced. https://t.co/P9gi3nEJdz (73009)
For more details,… pic.twitter.com/cPENw8om5v