government shutdown

State officials warn, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is expected to run out of regular funding in the coming weeks due to the federal government shutdown.

So far, air traffic controllers, TSA agents and other federal employees have been showing up to work in Portland, jetport officials said Thursday.

Collins, a Republican, echoed her party's criticism of Democrats, who are holding out for an extension of Affordable Care Act health insurance premium tax credits.

However, Maine's federal employees who are considered "essential" and are working without pay cannot apply for unemployment, according to the state Department of Labor.

More than 35 former national park superintendents, including one from Acadia, are calling on the National Park Service to fully close national parks in the event of a government shutdown this week.

Gov. Janet Mills has signed a bill to offer state-backed no-interest loans to federal and state employees if they are furloughed or required to work without pay during a federal or state shutdown.

Kirsten Figueroa, commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services told lawmakers that Maine could tap its strong cash reserves to temporarily cover the gap in federal funding for some programs without affecting state operations. And she said her office likely could manage a 30-day shutdown without requiring the Legislature to return to Augusta.

If the government does close, the impacts will more closely resemble those felt during a 16-day shutdown back in 2013, when about 40% of federal workers and military members in Maine and across the country were furloughed, union officials said.

It's still not clear what impacts a federal shutdown would have on benefits like food stamps in Maine. Amanda Marino with Good Shepherd Food Bank, says that benefits will not be stopped immediately, but that could change if the shutdown drags on.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins says she is working with several colleagues on a new compromise to avoid a government shutdown starting this weekend by adding border security provisions to the bill.