Here's what it means for Texas” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Texas is home to more federal civilian employees than all but three other states, counting over 130,000 workers as of September 2024. Since 2019, those employees — along with furloughed workers — have been guaranteed back pay once federal funding is restored. Other services typically deemed essential and continued during shutdowns include delivery of benefits, federal law enforcement operations, veterans' health care and military functions. Further compounding federal workers' stress, the White House put out a memo to federal agencies threatening mass layoffs in the event of a shutdown.