In the fall of 2013, the Federal government experienced a shutdown and now Washington, D.C., is looking at a deadline this Saturday to act to keep it open. U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) tells KCII News that he hopes it doesn’t close due to costs associated with closing and then opening government offices and operations. He adds there are two issues in his eyes that are under consideration, increased spending for the military and building a wall.

Grassley says he understands it as a “virtual fence” instead of a 2,000-mile steel and concrete wall separating the U.S. and Mexico. He describes the “virtual fence” as “electronics and ways to keep track of people not crossing without papers” including an exit and entry systems at airports to track people who overstay visas. Grassley tells KCII News, he believes it will be worked out by midnight Saturday.

The last shutdown lasted approximately three weeks and locally included National Guard federal technicians being furloughed, websites and resources being unavailable across different departments including the USDA, and local USDA employees temporarily relocating to the Washington County Extension Office.