Thousands of SC workers will be back at work Tuesday as government shutdown ends

Thousands of South Carolinians could be back to work Tuesday if the U.S. Senate votes Monday to end the federal government shutdown.

Several national parks and sites in the Palmetto State could open to visitors, too.

Until then, workers are stuck at home awaiting notification on when they can return and signs notify visitors that a park’s visitor’s center, or the park itself, is closed.

On Thursday night, enough U.S. House votes were available to pass a short-term spending bill to pay for the federal government to operate. However, the U.S. Senate could not wrangle enough votes to do the same, and by Saturday federal workers in South Carolina felt the impact.

The S.C. National Guard on Saturday sent home about 2,200 of 4,200 soldiers scheduled for drill, affecting those soldiers who drove across the state to be there.

By Monday, approximately 750 of 1,000 National Guard technicians were furloughed based on guidance by the U.S. Department of Defense.

If the furlough continues past Jan. 31, the National Guard said more than 450 employees also could be furloughed and create “detriminetal” impacts.

Congaree National Park officially shut down Saturday, leaving the visitor’s center and restrooms closed. But the trails and roads leading in are open, said park spokesman Scott Teodarski.

If the shutdown were to continue past January, Teodarski said that could have adverse effects on park resources.

“We want to (fully) be open for business as soon as possible,” he said. “We do appreciate the support from folks that we’ve gotten.”

Without money, Fort Sumter National Monument and the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site closed “for the safety of visitors and park resources,” the National Park Service said.

At Fort Jackson, much of the U.S. Army’s largest training installation remained open despite the shutdown.

A news release said the shutdown would not affect the fort’s ability to keep its soldiers, civilians and family members safe, or the site secure.

However, the shutdown did result in all leave being canceled for civilian employees and almost all government travel to be delayed, canceled or cut short.

U.S. senators seemed hopeful enough votes would be there Monday afternoon to end the shutdown.

“I’m hopeful my Democrat colleagues will find a way to reopen the government so we can find a solution on immigration, defense spending, and many other important issues,” U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, tweeted Sunday.

This story was originally published January 22, 2018 at 12:24 PM with the headline "Thousands of SC workers will be back at work Tuesday as government shutdown ends."