By Leah Douglas, P.J. Huffstutter and Julie Ingwersen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Market-sensitive commodity data reports released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and nutrition programs that feed millions of Americans could be vulnerable to disruption if the federal government shuts down early Wednesday morning.
During shutdowns, nonessential government employees are typically furloughed or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety, food safety, and national security, keep working.
The U.S. Congress has until Tuesday to pass legislation keeping the federal government open or trigger a partial shutdown. During past shutdowns, market-sensitive reports issued by the USDA and other government agencies were suspended.
The USDA told Reuters it is
Factbox-How a US Government Shutdown Would Affect USDA Data, Nutrition Programs and Operations
