After watching the Congressional hearing this am regarding the NPS’s implementation of shutdown –related closures and based on breaking news in D.C., HQ believes that a short-term budget deal will be reached today and signed into law by President Obama.
Politico Article on Potential Deal
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2013/10/white-house-there-are-no-winners-here-175216.htmlOne of the hearing’s prime takeaways is the glaring need to reform the Anti-Deficiency Act. It is clearly out-of-date and has been used as an excuse to furlough federal land management staff that many of us feel are “essential personnel.” Since Congress passed legislation early in the shutdown to pay the furloughed employees, they should have either amended that Act to allow those employees to work during the shutdown or declare federal recreation staff as essential personnel.
