As of this week, this government shutdown has become the longest period our government has been shut down in our country’s history. With the government being shut down for so long, many fear that the long-term impacts of this impasse will last for years to come.
As of today, over a million federal workers have either been laid off or furloughed since the shutdown began. These workers have been without pay for several weeks now and are forced to deal with the issues that it causes. Additionally, many essential workers are still required to work without pay while this shutdown persists.
To make matters worse, there have been questions regarding the legality of the backpay guarantee for furloughed federal employees, potentially meaning that they might not receive the desperately needed backpay.
As part of this shutdown, the funds for the SNAP benefits program have not been refilled, which has caused millions of Americans who rely on SNAP for food to go without the needed funds. Food banks around the country have been doing their best to provide for those in need, but they have been running out of stock.
Pilots and air traffic controllers are still required to work despite not being paid. Some airports across the country have started allowing unpaid workers to have a certain amount of food and drink per day for free to help them with their financial issues.
This shutdown has been having widespread consequences across the country, and it is a shame that the government could not agree on a resolution. However, there have been some discussions among politicians recently that may lead to an end to the shutdown. Hopefully, it will end soon, and the workers can receive the pay they deserve.
