What Does This Government Shutdown Mean?
After Democrat and Republican Senators were unable to agree on health policy, the federal government was driven to a shutdown on Oct. 1. The issue at hand relates to the cost of premiums for healthcare plans individuals purchase through the Affordable Care Act. The enhanced tax credits for these premiums are set to expire at the end of the year and have been a major factor at play in keeping ACA plans affordable for the millions of people who rely on them.
Democrats voted against Republican’s proposed short-term funding bill for a few different reasons, one of the main ones being because it did not include an extension for these enhanced tax credits. This issue will impact the more than 24 million Americans who don’t get health insurance through jobs and public programs like Medicare or Medicaid, but instead buy it through the ACA.
Another major reason Democrats voted against the bill had to do with wanting to restore the healthcare spending cuts Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act made.
Republicans hold the slim majority, but in order to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rules they need about 8 votes from the Democrats.
Each side’s leaders are currently blaming the other as responsible for the shutdown while refusing to negotiate. Republicans are pushing for a short-term measure that will resume the current levels of funding for the U.S. government from now through Nov. 21.
What Is A Government Shutdown?
Every year it is Congress’ duty to allocate funds to federal agencies for their operation. If Congress isn’t able to agree on a spending bill, like the one that caused this recent government shutdown, then all of the federal agencies affected will be forced to stop normal spending.
“Essential” agencies are the only government services that will continue to operate as normal. This includes national defense, law enforcement, Social Security, and so on. All services deemed as “non-essential” by officials will come to a halt.
How Is This Government Shutdown Affecting Us?
All government services that operate for the protection of life and property will continue to function.
Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits will continue on, but employees at Social Security field offices have raised concerns after the shutdown left them unable to carry out important services for some recipients.
Though airport security and air traffic control are considered essential and will continue to function, travelers across the U.S. have started to see staffing shortages related to the shutdown disrupt their flights.
While teachers and schools will not be directly affected and student financial aid programs are set to continue, federal education functions might feel some effects. Around 87% of Department of Education employees have already been temporarily furloughed.
The National Park Services (NPS) has halted their operations. Most trails, roads, and lookouts are still available to visitors, but functioning with reduced staff means less maintenance and more cause for safety concerns.
The shutdown’s biggest impact can be seen in relation to paychecks and employment. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that around 750,000 federal employees are to be furloughed each day the shutdown continues. The White House has also started to make good on their threat to enact mass layoffs should the government go into a shutdown with about 4,200 employees.
NPR has provided a breakdown of the shutdown’s impacts on a state by state basis.
As the shutdown exceeds the two week mark, the White House Budget Office announced its preparation to “ride out” the shutdown by continuing layoffs. Over 8 votes for this GOP funding bill have taken place and with no indication of any major progress between the two sides recorded it is still unclear when we will reach the end.
