The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
By: BBC
The White House says it will begin laying off most government workers within two days, as lawmakers are blamed for the first government shutdown in nearly seven years.
Government operations began to falter on Wednesday after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to agree on a new spending plan before a midnight deadline.
There is little sign that either side is willing to compromise, and a vote to end the deadlock failed just hours after it began.
Since then, the Senate has adjourned, raising fears that the measure could go ahead and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs as well as risk costing the US economy billions in lost revenue.
What impact will a US government shutdown have?
The US government has shut down after Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to resolve a budget impasse.
The crisis is affecting government funding through October and beyond and is set to cause major disruptions for Americans in areas ranging from air travel to visits to zoos.
The political standoff is also expected to put 40% of federal workers – about 800,000 people – on unpaid leave.
This is how its impact will be seen across the country.
Flight cancellations
The government shutdown will affect air travel in various ways, leading to long lines, and delays caused by unpaid air traffic controllers, forcing them to stay home instead of working for free.
Air traffic control and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are considered “essential,” so they will continue to go to work if the government shuts down.
But they won’t be paid until the government reopens. The last time the government shut down in 2018-2019, these workers became increasingly sick, causing delays at the airport.
The impact will also be felt by Americans planning to travel abroad, with US passport agencies warning that it could take longer than usual to process travel documents.
No work – or pay – for federal employees
Federal workers are expected to be hit hardest, as they will not receive any paychecks while the government shutdown continues.
Some workers may choose to take on second jobs, as they did during previous lockdowns. Non-essential workers will be required to stay home. In the past, these workers have been paid directly.
Several agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, are likely to lay off large numbers of employees, impacting ongoing research and trials already underway.
President Donald Trump, who has slashed government spending and cut federal jobs since taking office, has repeatedly warned that a government shutdown could accelerate further layoffs and allow him to cut services and programs he says are essential to Democrats.
Contractors, who work for federal agencies but are not directly employed by the government, will also lose their jobs. These workers have historically not received any back pay, according to the House Budget Committee responsible for government spending.
Unstaffed National Parks
Federal lands, including National Parks and National Forests, have been closed to visitors during previous lockdowns, as rangers and other workers were required to stay home.
When the government last shut down, the Trump administration made the decision to leave the parks open, with fewer federal employees.
According to the park’s advocates, the decision led to destruction in the park, as visitors drove through the protected landscape, looted historic sites, and polluted the areas.
A group of more than 40 former park managers have called on the White House to permanently close the park if the government shuts down.
“We don’t leave museums open without curators, or airports without air traffic controllers – and we shouldn’t leave our national parks open without National Park Service staff,” said Emily Thompson of the Alliance to Protect America’s National Parks.
Zoo visits
The famous museums of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC will remain open until at least next Monday, October 6.
On the Smithsonian website, the organization said it had money from previous years to help keep it open.
Animals at the National Zoo “will continue to be fed and cared for,” according to the Smithsonian, which runs the park.
But the popular webcams will be turned off, as they have been deemed unnecessary by park staff.
The suspension of these broadcasts will distract viewers from watching the park’s pandas, lions, elephants and mice.
Health care for the elderly and the poor
Medicare and Medicaid, public health programs for the elderly and poor, will continue, but staff shortages could lead to the disruption of some of those services.
Emergency health assistance is also expected to be largely unaffected, however other work carried out by emergency agencies will be affected.
The National Flood Insurance Program will close, delaying some mortgages on properties that require policies from the government-run program.
But if the shutdown continues, there is a possibility that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) could run out of money for its Emergency Relief Fund.
Food assistance programs will also be affected, with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) expected to quickly run out of funds.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) is expected to continue for a long time, but it is also at risk of running out of funding.
