The Government Shutdown and the Vast Effects it Holds

Kate LaPlaca

Staff Writer

On Oct. 1 at 12:01 am, the Federal Government of the United States shut down due to a funding lapse at the end of the fiscal year. This occurred after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on new funding proposals in the U.S. Senate. The shutdown stemmed from ongoing disagreements between Democrats and Republicans.

Several key issues contributed to the shutdown, one of the largest being disputes over the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including Medicaid funding. Democrats opposed the proposed cuts from Republicans in the House of Representatives, while Republicans argued for a “clean” resolution to keep the government open without additional spending measures, according to Politico.

The two sides, however, could not find a compromise. Democrats insisted that certain policy issues needed to be addressed as part of the deal, and both parties remained unwilling to abandon their core priorities.

The shutdown’s effects extend far beyond Washington. Thousands of federal employees have been forced to stop working because their positions are considered nonessential. Others, such as air traffic controllers and Border Patrol agents, continue to work without pay, receiving only blank paychecks until the government reopens.

Lawmakers from both parties have recently ramped up bipartisan discussions to end the shutdown, though no agreement has been reached, as several votes in the Senate have failed.

As the shutdown continues, economic and social effects are hitting people harder. Stalled federal services have created a growing frustration across the country. Even though furloughed workers will likely get paid once it’s over, the disruption and loss of trust show just how much political deadlock can impact everyday life.