Gillespie County government agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service and the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park closed this week due to the federal government shutdown.

After Republican and Democratic politicians failed to resolve a budget dispute, the Oct. 1 midnight funding deadline was triggered and the government closed down.

The USDA closed its Fredericksburg Field Office until the funding freeze ends. Employees were furloughed and do not have access to ...