The federal government shutdown, which began late Monday, is already being felt in Arkansas, where hundreds of workers have been furloughed and parts of the Clinton Presidential Center have been closed.
In Little Rock, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders directed state agencies to determine which programs must be suspended. The Department of Finance and Administration said 264 state employees are sidelined, most from the Department of Military.
The Clinton Presidential Library, museum, store, and restaurant are closed during the shutdown, though public programs and private events continue.
Arkansas has more than 14,000 federal civilian employees. Some — such as air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and FBI agents — must keep working without pay. Others face furloughs and possible layoffs even after funding is restored.
The last major shutdown, in 2018 and 2019, lasted 34 days and led to airport delays as unpaid employees staged sick-outs.
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