BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) -- As the federal shutdown continues, IRS operations are on hold, delaying refunds, freezing credits, and sidelining contractors, with the effects already rippling through Louisiana’s economy.

Del Wright, a law professor at LSU, says the shutdown is already straining the state’s economy and could worsen if it drags on past this week.

"In simplest terms, the government stops funding a lot the things that aren't essential to the operation of the U.S. government," said Wright.

Essential services such as the military and some law enforcement will continue operating, but many others, including IRS functions, infrastructure projects, and certain public offices, are paused or slowed down.

At its core, the shutdown is about where federal dollars should go. Wr

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