Continued Shutdown Could Shutter Shinnecock Day Care

A continued federal government shutdown could mean that the Shinnecock Early Learning Day Care Center could have to shut its doors.

"A continued shutdown could force the day care center to close and hinder other operations at the Shinnecock Reservation," Congressman Tim Bishop said Friday.

According to Bishop, the Shinnecock Tribe applied for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to pay for operating costs to run the child care center.

They applied through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is mostly furloughed, so the funds will be delayed until the application can be evaluated, Bishop said.

A media representative for the Shinnecock Indian Nation did not immediately return a request for comment on how the reservation is being impacted by the shutdown.

On Friday, Bishop addressed the impacts the shutdown is having locally.

"Plum Island is currently operating on a limited staff that is ensuring the security and safety of the island," he said.

While Bishop said the exact figure of employees working is not known, the number is based on general Department of Homeland Security guidelines.

“I am focused on getting the government open after a needless shutdown and protecting our nation from defaulting on its credit at the hands of irresponsible and reckless members of the House of Representatives," Bishop said.

According to Bishop, only sensitive research or activities related to national security at the Plum were currently exempt from the shutdown. 

Bishop said he was awaiting official confirmation on the research center's furlough schedule, but said he believes that only 20 of the disease center's 650 employees remained working. 

"Researchers have undoubtedly been sent home unless they fall under the exemption," said Bishop. "Therefore, only a skeleton crew to protect the island and perform critical maintenance is likely to be in place." 

In Riverhead, Calverton National Cemetery has also been impacted. On Friday, Bishop said if the shutdown extends beyond October 22, then Calverton National Cemetery would be forced to furlough approximately two thirds of its workers. 

Currently, there are 100 workers at the cemetery; the furlough would leave only 29.

The move would decrease maintenance like grass cutting and reduce the number of burials that can be conducted on a daily basis.

Earlier, Bishop had said operations at the cemetery would remain fully funded until mid-October, however, it the shutdown continued, the employees would be furloughed.

Bishop, has called the furloughs across the board, including ones made on Tuesday at the 106 Rescue Wing in Westhampton, avoidable.

He said, "The House GOP has voted to ensure a harmful, and completely avoidable, shutdown of federal government operations beginning today. It is deeply reckless that the House leadership and its Tea Party-dominated caucus have abdicated their responsibility to govern and, instead, have chosen to pursue partisan political goals at the expense of the American people’s interests."