A U.S. federal government shutdown has been enacted, following a failure by Republican and Democratic lawmakers to agree on a budget. This shutdown, which impacts government operations throughout October and potentially beyond, is expected to cause significant disruptions for Americans across various sectors, including air travel and public recreational spaces.
Approximately 40% of the federal workforce, totaling about 750,000 individuals, will be placed on unpaid leave due to this political impasse. Here’s a breakdown of how these effects might be felt:
**Impact on Travel:**
Air travelers may experience longer security queues and increased delays. While air traffic controllers and Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers are considered essential and will continue working, they will do so without pay. Past shutdowns have seen a rise in ‘sick-outs’ among these employees, leading to widespread delays. Additionally, those planning international travel might face longer processing times for U.S. passport applications.
**Federal Workers and Pay:**
Federal employees will be most directly affected, not receiving paychecks during the shutdown. Law enforcement officers, border protection staff, ICE agents, in-hospital medical care staff, and air traffic controllers will continue working without pay. Some agencies, like the CDC and NIH, may furlough workers, impacting research. Federal contractors, who are not directly employed by the government, often miss out on back pay, unlike federal employees.
**National Parks and Public Spaces:**
Historically, federal lands, including National Parks, have been closed during shutdowns due to the absence of staff. During a previous shutdown, the decision to keep parks open without sufficient staffing led to instances of vandalism and damage to historical sites. Park advocates have called for complete closures to prevent such issues.
**Smithsonian Institutions and Zoos:**
Famous institutions like the Smithsonian museums are expected to remain open for a limited time, utilizing reserve funds. While animals at the National Zoo will continue to receive care, popular webcams, deemed non-essential, will be shut off, preventing public access to views of animals like pandas and lions.
**Healthcare and Assistance Programs:**
Essential programs like Medicare and Medicaid are expected to continue, though staffing shortages could cause interruptions. Food assistance programs, such as WIC, are at risk of rapidly depleting funds, while SNAP (food stamps) may also face future funding issues. Emergency disaster relief will largely continue, but other operations of disaster agencies could be affected. The National Flood Insurance Program will close, potentially delaying mortgages, and extended shutdowns could impact FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.
**Postal Service:**
The US Postal Service, being an independent entity funded through its services rather than congressional appropriations, is typically unaffected by government shutdowns and will continue operating as usual.