The U.S. government is on the brink of a partial shutdown, with funding for federal departments and agencies set to expire at midnight Friday. More than half of the federal workforce at the Kennedy Space Center could be furloughed.
In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget, NASA's Chief Financial Officer Jeff DeWit outlined the agency’s plans to shut down if congress can’t agree on funding.
Out of about 2,000 federal workers at the Kennedy Space Center, roughly 800 will be exempt from furloughs.
NASA will continue to prep space launch hardware and continue to support astronauts on the International Space Station, but education support in schools and the broadcast of NASA TV will not continue during a government shutdown.
A scheduled SpaceX launch for the Air Force Saturday from Cape Canaveral will not be affected.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex will remain open, as it is supported by private funds.
