Federal Government Shutdown - How does it affect you in Jacksonville?

The Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate could not agree on a spending plan so Thursday, the government shut down. The shut down one will stop 800,000 Americans from getting paid and could cost the economy about $1 billion a week.

So what does this mean for Jacksonville?

Active duty troops will still get paid.

The Senate approved a House-approved measure Monday to ensure members of the military would continue to get paid during the shutdown. President Obama signed off on it. But it's uncertain how the shutdown will affect military veterans, including the 3.3 million who are disabled.

If the shutdown stretches into late October, the Veterans Affairs Department -- meaning disability and pension checks could stop for elderly and ill veterans.

National parks and museums in the area are closed.

In Jacksonville, that means the Fort Caroline National Memorial and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Kingsley Plantation will not open today.

In Saint Augustine, Castillo De San Marcos and Fort Matanzas are not expected to open.

In south Georgia, Cumberland Island National Seashore will close.

Across the country, national parks bring in about $450,000 a day.

Social security checks will still be sent out, mail will also be delivered.

In reference to healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are not affected. So if you are on medicare, you can still go see your doctor.

The US Postal Service will not be affected by the shutdown.

Of course the hot air and rhetoric between both parties will still be operational with accusations and finger pointing flying furiously to any news program willing to listen. All of us with a job are amazed that if we stop working, we get fired, yet, we have a new reality in Washington D.C.