The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, in downtown Harrisburg.

Gov. Tom Wolf on Jan. 23 said the state government is working to mitigate the impacts of the partial shutdown of the federal government, which entered its second month.

“My administration is doing everything that it can to help those impacted by this situation,” Wolf said. “Agencies across state government are working with local officials and organizations that rely on federal funding. We are temporarily using state funds to fill the gaps where we can. We are working to assist affected workers however we can. I urge businesses and creditors to show compassion for federal employees that are not being paid.”

Wolf said the Department of Environmental Protection is still waiting on guidance from the federal government on how to manage chemical contamination in drinking water. That guidance was expected to be included in a report that been delayed by the shutdown. Meanwhile, final approvals of grant funding and issuance of permits have begun to be affected by the shutdown, including pass-through funds depended on by local governments. Wolf said the DEP is moving forward on grants and permits, but in many cases final action is required at the federal level.

Among the other steps taken by the Wolf administration were the following: • The Department of Labor and Industry has waived work registration and work search requirements for furloughed federal employees who meet unemployment compensation eligibility requirements; • Training and exercises for first responders and emergency management practitioners that involve federal agencies have been canceled; • An elevation mapping project, to be used for flood management and infrastructure development, that includes federal funds is on hold, and • The Office of Administration is paying federal workers attached to state agencies, with reimbursement expected after the shutdown ends.

Wolf also urged President Donald Trump to agree to sign off on bipartisan spending bills that would allow government functions to be restored, and then move on to a debate over building a barrier on the southern border.

“It is time for this to end before the consequences are even more dire,” Wolf said.