{"id":18198,"date":"2019-01-07T20:00:11","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T12:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/government-shutdown-is-putting-a-damper-on-science-in-seattle-and-elsewhere\/"},"modified":"2019-01-07T20:00:11","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T12:00:11","slug":"government-shutdown-is-putting-a-damper-on-science-in-seattle-and-elsewhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/government-shutdown-is-putting-a-damper-on-science-in-seattle-and-elsewhere\/","title":{"rendered":"Government shutdown is putting a damper on science in Seattle and elsewhere"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Welcome
Arata Expositions\u2019 Jason Edwards puts down a \u201cWelcome\u201d sign for the American Astronomical Society\u2019s winter meeting at the Seattle Convention Center. (GeekWire Photo \/ Alan Boyle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s been called the \u201cSuper Bowl of Astronomy,\u201d but when the American Astronomical Society\u2019s winter meeting plays out in Seattle this week, some of the stars won\u2019t be taking the field.<\/p>\n

The AAS meeting is just one of the scientific endeavors diminished by the partial government shutdown in Washington, D.C., which entered its 17th day today.<\/p>\n

NASA representatives, and researchers whose travel would typically be funded by NASA, have had to cancel their plans to be in Seattle due to the tiff involving the Trump administration and Republicans on one side, and Democrats on the other.<\/p>\n

The shutdown affects only a quarter of the federal government \u2014 which means that the Defense Department and the Energy Department can continue research and development activities. Work continues as well at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and at the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n

But most employees at NASA as well as at the Agriculture Department, the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service are on furlough.<\/p>\n

Some employees \u2014 for example, NASA personnel who are supporting operations on the International Space Station or other space missions \u2014 are staying on the job but won\u2019t be paid until the shutdown is resolved. Contractors can use the funds left in their accounts until the money runs out.<\/p>\n

Rick Fienberg, a spokesman for the AAS, estimates that at least 300 to 450 of the 3,200 attendees registered for this week\u2019s meeting at the Washington State Convention Center won\u2019t be showing up, based on an email survey conducted just after the shutdown went into effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe figure that\u2019s a low number,\u201d Fienberg said, \u201cbecause a lot of the emails went to government addresses.\u201d Which, of course, are going untended during the shutdown.<\/p>\n