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The federal government shutdown may disrupt services and delay certain benefits many Texans rely on, depending on how long it lasts. More civilian federal employees live in Texas than in all but three other states. Most of them work for the Treasury, the Defense Department, Veterans Affairs, the Army, and the Air Force, about 130 thousand in all, not counting uniformed military personnel.
Employees considered nonessential may be furloughed, while air traffic controllers, TSA screeners, and others will be required to work without pay. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz and several other members of Congress are refusing their own pay for the duration of the shutdown.
