WJ Editorial: Shutdown Is Reminder That Waterways Are Essential
It’s been nearly seven years since the last government shutdown. That one, which spanned 35 days at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, was the longest in American history.
Back then, the most distressing effect on maritime operations was on the Coast Guard. About 42,000 active-duty Coast Guard members continued working but went unpaid until the shutdown ended. The Coast Guard was the only branch of the armed forces to miss paychecks, since the Department of Defense had other funding streams. While search and rescue, port security and law enforcement at sea continued, some Coast Guard administrative, training and support functions were curtailed.
Since then, several bills have been introduced in Congress to ensure that Coast Guard personnel continue to be paid during a shutdown, but none has yet passed. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, still in force, at least ensures that those Coast Guard personnel will get their money retroactively once the shutdown ends.
Most Corps of Engineers personnel will stay employed. About 3 percent of its workforce reportedly will be furloughed. Any dredging or lock and dam work funded through the Inland Waterways Trust Fund or that already have funds obligated will continue. River operators may not see immediate shutdown effects on navigation dredging, but since we are approaching peak harvest season, and the Lower Mississippi is facing dropping river levels, any prolonged shutdown is worrying.
The Maritime Administration and Federal Maritime Commission have mostly shut down. Under MarAd’s shutdown plan, most non-essential functions are suspended. This includes activities within the Office of Cargo and Commercial Sealift, except for staff monitoring Jones Act waiver requests and supporting emergency crisis management. Approval of vessel transfers out of the U.S.-flag registry is also suspended. Grant activities, like processing invoices related to the Small Shipyard Grant Program, will be suspended until the shutdown ends.
Essential operations continue. These include protecting imminent hazards to the safety of human life and securing U.S. government vessels. MarAd continues operations related to the Maritime Security Program, the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), Ready Reserve and the Ship Disposal Program.
No one likes shutdowns, and we all hope this one ends quickly. However, the shutdown does highlight how essential maritime cargo movements are. Those Corps and Coast Guard functions that keep rivers dredged and cargoes moving are vital. Our inland waterway crews and industry committee members are essential personnel. In every crisis and emergency, mariners come to the fore and show their value to the nation.
