A government shutdown affects a wide range of people and services across the United States:
- Federal employees: Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed or put on unpaid leave, except for essential workers like air traffic controllers, TSA agents, law enforcement officers, and border protection personnel who must work without pay during the shutdown. These employees miss paychecks during the shutdown but usually receive back pay when it ends. Military personnel also face pay interruptions but continue to work.
- Government contractors and related businesses: Contractors and companies that provide goods or services to federal agencies may face lost income or layoffs due to halted contracts during the shutdown.
- Public services and the general public: Many government services are disrupted or delayed, including passport and visa processing, national parks and museums closures, suspension of routine food safety inspections, delays in Social Security and Veterans' benefits processing, and potential interruptions in nutrition assistance programs like WIC and SNAP, which support women and children in need.
- The economy: A prolonged shutdown can reduce overall U.S. economic output by lowering GDP and impacting businesses reliant on government contracts or services, with estimated billions in lost economic activity for longer shutdowns.
- Local governments and communities: Cities like Washington D.C. may face added burdens to maintain services normally handled by the federal government, such as trash collection and issuing licenses, and nonprofit organizations may experience increased demand for assistance.
Overall, a government shutdown affects federal workers, essential service providers, benefit recipients, government contractors, the economy, and local communities broadly.
