FCC readies ‘Out-of-Office’ emails as budget looms

With President Donald Trump and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi going toe-to-toe over funding for a controversial wall, the FCC has warned it will run out of money on Thursday afternoon.

The inability for the Republicans and Democrats to come to an agreement on federal funding has meant numerous agencies throughout the country are facing closure, the FCC being one of them. Considering FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has been doing his best to lighten the regulatory influence of the agency during his tenure, perhaps colleagues will be able to hear a joyous tap-dance echoing from his office.

“In the event of a continued partial lapse in federal government funding, the Federal Communications Commission will suspend most operations in the middle of the day on Thursday, January 3,” the FCC has said in a statement. “At that time, employees will have up to four hours to complete an orderly shutdown of operations.”

For those who work for the FCC, the political stance being made by the two leaders will mean very little as they sit quietly at home with no pay-cheque. However, work required for the protection of life and property will continue, as will work relating to spectrum auctions, which is funded by auction proceeds. The Office of the Inspector General will also remain open, though most of the FCC function will temporarily cease. More details are expected over the next couple of hours.

What remains to be seen is how long the office will be closed for. After it initially appeared Trump would sign the proposed budget, critics suggested he was going back on his word as there was little funding to create the physical border between the US and Mexico. The wave of criticism from usually friendly media titles forced the hand of the President, and it appears there will be little concession made by either side right now.

Such is the world of politics an agreement will probably be made in the near future. Both sides will suggest they gained the advantage, though (again), this will come as little comfort for those whose bank accounts are getting slimmer as we speak.