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Government shutdown looming
Officials unclear on impact for Louisiana
BY MARK BALLARD and ALYSE PFEIL
Staff writers
WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats were no closer to compromise Tuesday night, setting the stage for the federal government to run out of money at midnight and cause the first shutdown of most federal operations since 2018. The agencies were still working
out just who should come to work Wednesday and who should stay home. Officials were figuring out: What services are deemed essential and must continue even without funding? And which services could be curtailed? In the past, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget gathered all the contingency plans and published them on its website. This time, the administration of
President Donald Trump has ordered each and every agency to post its own contingency plan on its website. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said he hadn’t received a formal notification regarding a federal government shutdown. Henry said based on prior shutdowns like the one in 2018, “We know that Social Security, military
and veterans affairs will not be affected.” And most critical services like flights and air traffic control won’t be disrupted, he said. The military will still be on duty. Armed forces retirees will still get their checks, but any changes to individual accounts will have to wait, according to the Defense Department contingency plan. Veterans Affairs medical facilities continue operations, and veteran benefits will be processed. Commercial flights will continue, though lines may start getting even
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
longer if the shutdown wears on. With two hurricanes off the U.S. coast, the staff of National Weather Service will be working even though the agency has roughly 20% fewer employees as result of Trump’s government downsizing, according to NOAA’s contingency plan. Similarly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency workers will be on duty during the shutdown.
ä See SHUTDOWN, page 5A
Request for troops in La. draws mixed reactions Local leaders weigh in on Landry’s National Guard deployment proposal
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
The program gives struggling families an opportunity to purchase a home through sweat equity, and a mortgage financed by Habitat for Humanity, with down payment assistance also available. The mortgage payments are then used to help build new homes. “Every time our homeowners like Kayla pay it forward every month, with their monthly mortgage payment, they’re helping somebody else get the
Gov. Jeff Landry’s request to deploy 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops in the state’s cities drew mixed reactions across the state as local leaders waited to learn more details. Landry announced on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s show Monday night he was sending Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth a letter asking the federal government to pay for the deployment. Under his administration, Landry told Hannity, “We started to see violence start to trickle down, and lately we’ve seen an uptick, so I’m calling the president today.” In his letter to Hegseth, Landry cited crime in cities like Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans as justification for the deployment. A spokesperson for Landry said she could not answer questions about where the troops would go, what they would do, or when they might be deployed, because Trump had not approved a plan yet. A White House spokesperson did not comment, and the Pentagon did not answer questions on whether Landry’s proposal will be approved. In a statement, the Louisiana National Guard said it will “start coordination with law enforcement partners in select major urban areas for preliminary development” as it awaits orders. “The LANG is the home team, made up of Louisiana sons and daughters. We will carry out our duties with honor and treat all with dignity and respect,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux, the Guard’s leader. “Protect what
ä See HOME, page 5A
ä See TROOPS, page 6A
STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
New Habitat for Humanity homeowner Kayla Moton reacts as she gets her first look at home furnishings provided by Warrick Dunn Charities on Tuesday in Lafayette. Dunn, right, and his charity partnered with The Aaron’s Company to provide the furnishings as well as down payment assistance.
Fueled by his mother’s dream, ex-NFL star helps Lafayette mom achieve hers BY JOEL THOMPSON
8-year-old son. “I just can’t believe this all belongs to me,” she said. The house on Pierce Street, which Sometimes dancing speaks louder had been nothing more than an empty than words. For Kayla Moton, it was the best way lot earlier this year, represents months she could express her emotions after of hard work for Moton, who put more finding out the new house she had just than 200 hours of sweat equity into purchased had been fully furnished, building the home alongside Lafayette Habitat for Humanity’s construction free of charge. It came as a complete surprise to team. It’s an opportunity afforded to Moton, a single mother from Lafayette Moton through Habitat’s Affordable raising an 11-year-old daughter and an Homeownership Program.
Contributing writer
SafeSource Direct to lay off another 150 BY ADAM DAIGLE
Acadiana business editor SafeSource Direct made another significant round of layoffs Friday, notifying 150 more employees they will be out of work. The Broussard-based manufacturer of personal protective equipment notified employees that day, a company spokesperson confirmed late Monday, about a month after announcing a layoff of 541 workers as it moves to suspend operations. Affected employees will remain on staff until Nov. 25. That puts the total layoffs at just un-
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der 700 after at one point reporting as many as 838 employees. There will be workers remaining after Nov. 25, the spokesperson said. In a letter to employees, company President Justin Hollingsworth complimented the staff for its accomplishments since starting operations in January 2022. “We should all be proud of what we have accomplished together,” he wrote. “Our team boldly responded to the nation’s call to protect frontline workers and help strengthen America’s PPE supply chain in an unprecedented time. It is extremely unfortunate that market conditions, which have been
unsupportive for several years, do not permit sustained domestic production. “On behalf of the management team and board of directors, we are deeply thankful to all of the employees who have made such an important contribution through their extraordinary skill, dedication and commitment to a mission that matters.” A handful of employees rallied at the corner of Kaliste Saloom Road and Ambassador Caffery Parkway on Monday to raise awareness of the plant and its upcoming layoffs, KADN reported. SafeSource Direct employed several
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
An employee works on the glove assembly line at the SafeSource Direct nitrile glove manufacturing facility in ä See SAFESOURCE, page 6A Broussard in 2022.
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