The Grinch in Congress: How a U.S. Government Shutdown Could Impact Your Holiday Season
With a government shutdown on the way that may break lives across the country, the U.S. Congress might be the Grinch this Christmas. The government may shut down at 12:01 AM on Saturday unless politicians can come to a last-minute compromise, prompting citizens to start thinking about how their daily routines and Christmas plans would be affected. (Government Shutdown)
What Triggers a Government Shutdown?
When Congress is unable to pass fresh finance laws for federal agencies, the government shuts down. Only vital services, like the military, public safety, security forces, TSA screening, air traffic controllers, and Social Security and Medicare payments, are run by the federal government in these situations.
Millions of government employees, including members of the armed forces, must work without salary during a shutdown, while hundreds of thousands of federal employees are placed on vacation. During the joyous holiday season, this financial insecurity can be extremely troubling. (Government Shutdown)
How a Shutdown Could Affect Americans
1. Holiday Travel Delays
There may be higher airport wait times during a shutdown, but passengers will still be allowed to travel. Until Congress ends the shutdown, TSA airport screeners and air traffic controllers—who are considered necessary workers—will continue to work but not get paid.
Air traffic controllers looked like leaving their jobs during a previous Christmas closure in 2018, and a rise in absences caused delays at a number of airports. Approximately 59,000 of TSA’s 62,000 employees will be on duty over the holidays, according to Administrator David Pekoske. An lengthy shutdown, though, might put a great deal of stress on airport operations.
Plans for foreign travel may become more difficult if passport offices in some places close.
2. Unpaid Military Service
Until Congress ends the shutdown, active-duty soldiers and reservists will continue to serve, but their pay cheques will be postponed. The Department of Defence will continue to defend the country, Military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stressed, but military families may face severe financial hardship, particularly during the holidays.
The same situation will apply to federal civilians who must work during the shutdown; they will be forced to work for no pay until the funding crisis is resolved.
3. Closure of National Parks
During a shutdown, the majority of national parks and monuments will probably close, which will cause problems with families’ and tourists’ plans to visit these public spaces over the holidays.
Some parks were open in part during previous shutdowns, but they lacked services for visitors, like garbage collection, clean restrooms, changes, and guides. A 16-day shutdown in 2013 cost the National Park Service $500 million in lost tourist spending.
However, Republican Governor Spencer Cox has advocated that states like Utah use emergency funding to maintain their parks.
4. Reduced Support for Safety-Net Programs
While federal offices may provide limited assistance for new applications or problem solving, safety-net programs such as WIC and SNAP (food stamps) will continue to distribute payments during a shutdown.
A extended closure might exhaust the funds for those programs, depriving people in need of vital support. Disruptions can happen to childcare services that assist low-income families, such as Head Start.
5. Social Security and Medicare Services
Benefits from Social Security and Medicare will still be paid out, but government offices would be less able to handle new applications or address problems. Although support services might be delayed, soldiers’ benefits, such as pensions and disability checks, will not be affected.
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The Broader Impact of a Shutdown
A sustained government shutdown might cause a great deal of emotional and financial stress, especially during a time when people are supposed to be celebrating and spending time together. Even while Congress usually provides back pay to federal employees during a shutdown, families that are struggling to make ends meet during the holidays may suffer as a result of the financial uncertainty.
Conclusion
The potential for a government shutdown in the United States around the holidays would have a major impact on Americans, resulting in closed national parks, unpaid federal employees, and interruptions to holiday travel. The financial and mental stress on impacted families stresses the pressing need for lawmakers to find a solution, even though basic services will continue.
Will Congress really act like the Grinch during this shutdown? Time will tell. Millions of Americans are currently waiting for clarity during this festive and disturbing time of year.