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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will continue to operate under a normal schedule if the federal government temporarily shuts down, WMATA officials said in a prepared statement.

The service may require several adjustments, such as running fewer rail cars, to meet demand and “conserve budget resources,” they said.

"We estimate that the temporary shuttering of certain federal government offices could reduce ridership from 5 to 20 percent, depending upon the decisions made to continue some federal operations and essential services," WMATA officials said. "In the event ridership decreases to levels of federal holidays, we may operate fewer eight-car trains."

A continuing resolution to fund government services was scheduled to expire today. As of press time, congressional leaders and President Obama were in discussions to resolve differences over the funding of government operations through the remainder of fiscal-year 2011.