Market Regulators Maintain Skeleton Crews as Shutdown Drags Out

Markets regulators are maintaining skeleton crews to keep tabs on trading and essential investor protections as the partial government shutdown continues with no end in sight.

The Securities and Exchange Commission staff will shift to “a very limited number” of staff beginning Dec. 27, the agency said on its website. The SEC will only be able to respond to emergencies related to market integrity and investor protection, including law enforcement, the agency said.

The SEC had access to additional funding that other agencies don’t, allowing it to operate with a full staff for a handful of days after the shutdown ...