"Of the federal grant funding that FFIS tracks -- which include the grants most important to state governments -- about two-thirds are considered mandatory.
"Howard says Medicaid is funded one quarter in advance, so that program will not face huge challenges during the shutdown. Moreover, under federal law, states would eventually get paid back for any lapses in Medicaid payments -- even if the shutdown lasts for an extended period of time. Funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program will also continue during the shutdown.
"Some other programs are "forward funded," meaning Congress has already appropriated the funding they need for the first quarter of FY 2014. Those include some foster care programs, as well as some e some foster care programsducation programs like Title I and Special Education grants, which won't be impacted. Some but not all Head Start grants will be affected by a shutdown. "The federal COPS program, which helps state and local governments hire police, is also safe.
Highway programs are largely funded by a special account called the Highway Trust Fund -- not the general fund -- so they will largely be spared too. That means it's unlikely that construction on transportation infrastructure would come to a halt. However, projects that receive funding through some discretionary grants like TIGER could be affected by the shutdown.
"While there's been much speculation about the impact the shutdown may have on the food stamps program, known as SNAP, the Department of Agriculture's guidance indicates that it's using language from the 2009 stimulus that should allow it to keep spending money on that program through the end of October.
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