Mulvaney asks for list of programs vulnerable to a lengthy shutdown

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has asked federal agencies to provide lists of key programs that could be endangered if the partial government shutdown drags on until March or April, an administration official confirmed on Wednesday.

Mulvaney has asked for the information by Friday, a request that was was first reported by The Washington Post.

{mosads}The request is one of the clearest signs yet that the White House is preparing for a shutdown of indefinite length that could have a significant impact on the economy.

President Trump’s top economist said earlier Wednesday that the shutdown, which has entered its 33rd day, could wipe out an entire quarter’s worth of gross domestic product growth if it lasts until March.

“Yes, we could,” Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett said on CNN when asked if the U.S. could see no growth in that scenario. “It is true that if we get a typically weak first quarter and then have an extended shutdown that we could end up with a number that’s very, very low.”

Officials also appear to be concerned about the effect on government services. Around 800,000 employees have either been furloughed or are working without pay, but there is also concern about food-stamp benefits, farm programs and the operations of the federal court system.

Walk-outs among Transportation Security Administration workers have caused long security lines at major airports, which has generated national media coverage. The problem could become worse this week, when workers are set to miss a second paycheck.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has also been tasked with communicating with agencies about their operations during the shutdown and finding ways to keep services running, despite the lapse in funding.

“Prudent management means planning and preparing for events without known end-dates,” said a senior OMB official who requested anonymity to discuss the activities. “As OMB continues to manage this partial lapse in appropriations, unfunded agencies are being asked to continue to share with OMB an ongoing list of programs that could be impacted within the coming weeks.”