The government shutdown has come at a cost to more than just the millions of federal workers who will not receive paychecks. The snag has rippled outward, with delays in processing passport applications and small business loans; fewer food-safety inspections and closed national parks; and, for the most vulnerable, lapses in Social Security and Medicare checks and services.
The federal workforce is generally divided into those deemed “essential” and those whose responsibilities don’t require annual funding (e.g., border protection, law enforcement and air traffic control). As in past shutdowns, most of these essential employees are expected to go to work without pay.
What’s the impact on me?
For many people, the government shutdown is personal. Missing paychecks prompt them to defer mortgage or credit card payments, or borrow money, which adds up over time. More importantly, a government shutdown is a gut punch to morale. Most government workers are mission driven, and they have devoted their lives to the agencies they serve. Seeing their work undermined by a political fight is like being told that their work doesn’t matter.
The House passed a bill last week, called a Continuing Resolution (CR), that would keep the government open until the end of this fiscal year. It’s now in the hands of the Senate, which has not yet voted on it. Virginia Senator and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, who is supporting the House measure, says the federal government needs to open immediately.
About the Author
