Local agencies and officials are already feeling the impact of the shutdown of the federal government that began Wednesday.

Weirton Ride, the public transit service operated by the City of Weirton’s Department of Transit, receives funding through the Federal Transit Administration.

Transit Director Kevin Davis, noting he is in the process of finalizing requests for the next federal budget, said federal funds from the most recent fiscal year remain available.

“Right now, it’s not affecting us because we have draws to work with,” Davis said, explaining, though, the service could see an impact with a prolonged shutdown of several months to a year.

Officials with the Jefferson County Department of Job and Family Services said federally funded food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program currently aren’t affected and any impact of a long-term shutdown, should it occur, hasn’t been determined.

The agency has posted answers to related questions at its website at https://jcjdfs.com/public-assistance/

There, officials state any pending or new applications for SNAP will be processed normally and those who are eligible will receive benefits from the time of their application through October.

Meanwhile, the Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Wheeling were open and operating on Wednesday. A U.S. Court Administration official provided the following statement regarding the future of the court.

“Despite a federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, the Judiciary remains open and will continue paid operations through Friday, Oct. 17, by using court fee balances and other funds not dependent on a new appropriation.

“Most proceedings and deadlines will occur as scheduled. In cases where an attorney from an executive branch agency is not working because of the shutdown, hearing and filing dates may be rescheduled.

“The Case Management/Electronic Case Files system also will remain in operation for electronic filing of documents.

The Judiciary initially confirmed that it could continue paid operations through Oct. 3, adding that it was assessing whether there were sufficient funds to support operations beyond that date. The assessment identified available fees and balances to pay for an additional two weeks.

“If the shutdown continues after Judiciary funds are exhausted, the courts will then operate under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which allows work to continue during a lapse in appropriations if it is necessary to support the exercise of Article III judicial powers. Under this scenario, each court and federal defender’s office would determine the staffing resources necessary to support such work.”

The Federal Building is also home to the local FBI office. No one could be reached for comment at press time.

Wheeling is also home to an IRS tax help office. No one could be reached for comment; however, the government was already planning to close this IRS office sometime before November.

Joyce Wolen, executive director of the Wheeling Housing Authority, said the shutdown is already impacting some aspects of the authority. But for now, the authority has money in the bank to cover operations.

“The short answer is yes, it will impact us,” Wolen said. “We have funding in the system we use to draw down federal funding. … We have money to pay who we need to pay. One budget is landlords; we do have money in that account.”

Wolen said the authority will continue to operate as normal while also keeping a close eye on its funding and the shutdown.

Wolen said one impact that will be immediate is if the authority needs HUD approval on something or has a question.

“If we need an answer, we no longer have access to that,” she said. “If our field office has been furloughed, and I don’t know if they have, and we have a question and can’t get an answer, that’s hard to determine. … It’s concerning and it could impact us in ways we’re not aware of yet,” she said.

For example, Wolen said she has an application that she is ready to send now but, because there is no one to review, it will have to be postponed.

“Reporting could also potentially fall behind. Oct. 1 is the beginning of our fiscal year. There are things that need to be submitted and reviewed, and depending on how long it lasts things could lapse on the part of HUD. I can’t say what the impact will be because I don’t know,” she said.

“At this moment we’re OK. We still have funding available to do what we need to do. We likely won’t start anything new; that’s where the impact will be felt.”

Wolen noted that every housing authority is operated differently and will feel the impact in different ways.

“Each operates independently; each has their own standard. You can’t expect Wheeling to operate like the authority in Chicago. It depends on how things are there,” she said. “It will impact housing authorities across the country, especially those with issues with funding.”

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said the impact has already started.

“Access to federal personnel, such as a previously scheduled meeting with HUD for (today) is cancelled,” he said. “I’m not sure the impact on the FEMA folks that we are currently working with on a daily and weekly basis.

“A lot, but not all of the contact for us with the federal government is on pause until they start back up. If FEMA work continues, then short term impacts will be minimal, but as time goes on it will be a different story for us.”

(Craig Howell and Warren Scott contributed to this report.)