All articles tagged with #federal services
A prolonged US government shutdown, now entering its fourth week without resolution, threatens to cause lasting economic damage beyond immediate disruptions, as previous shutdowns typically only had short-term effects.
The US government has shut down due to a deadlock in Congress over funding and healthcare policies, affecting numerous federal services and employees, with no immediate resolution in sight.
A government shutdown would have various impacts on everyday Americans, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents working without pay, delays in disaster recovery projects, farmers being unable to obtain marketing loans, Head Start programs losing funding, IRS services being significantly reduced, closure of national parks and cultural institutions, potential disruptions to SNAP and WIC benefits, and limited workplace inspections by OSHA. However, essential services like Social Security and VA health care would continue.
The United States is facing a potential government shutdown if Congress fails to pass legislation to extend funding before October 1. A shutdown could disrupt key federal services such as food stamps, tax-return processing, and military pay. While national parks may remain open, restrooms would not be accessible. The IRS may keep some essential employees but only to search for payments to the government, potentially leaving taxpayers more exposed to financial hardship. Active-duty military personnel would continue working without pay, while veteran benefits would continue. Travel safety would be maintained with most Transportation Security Administration employees staying on the job. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the U.S. Postal Service would continue operations, while the National Park Service would suspend maintenance activities.
The White House has instructed federal agencies to prepare for a government shutdown as House Republicans have failed to come up with a viable plan to fund the government and avoid disruptions to federal services. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing resistance from hard-right Republicans who are pushing for spending cuts beyond what was agreed upon in a previous deal. McCarthy is now attempting to pass multiple funding bills once the House reconvenes on Tuesday, but time is running out. The potential shutdown puts various activities at risk, including military pay, food safety programs, air travel, and passport processing, and could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy.