If funding lapses again at midnight, it will be the second time this year that the government has shut down. The last one, in 2018, lasted 35 days and was brought about by disagreements over President Trump’s demand for funds to build his wall on the southern border.
This shutdown affects tens of thousands of federal workers — from the Social Security Administration employees who answer phone calls about benefits to air traffic control staff at every major airport and our national parks. Those considered essential continue to work but without pay. The same applies to federal law enforcement and emergency disaster response, while some on-base services like food and childcare are disrupted.
It also impacts hundreds of thousands of Americans who receive federal benefits – including Social Security checks, Medicare payments and federal loan and grant programs like Small Business Administration or SNAP. If the shutdown lingers, those benefits will likely be interrupted or delayed, affecting people who depend on them for financial stability, including low-income women and families.
It’s critical that our leaders put aside partisan politics and agree on a solution to end the shutdown. We need a clean continuing resolution that allows us to debate the larger issues while providing certainty to our federal workforce and our communities. It’s long past time to reopen the government and reopen Congress’ attention to these vital matters of our nation’s safety, health and prosperity. This is a moment for all of us to stand together and say that it’s a disgrace when working people have to wait in line at food banks or struggle to afford basic necessities because they’re missing a paycheck.