America has a problem. Much of the federal government is on the verge of a shutdown on Wednesday (Oct. 1) if Congress doesn’t get their act together. But while the threat of a possible shutdown is scaring Americans around the country, it’s not lost on us that many folks don’t even know what’s really going on.
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That’s why you can count on us to break down exactly what a federal shutdown actually means, and what’s at stake for Black Americans if Congress doesn’t reach an agreement in less than 24 hours from the time you’re reading this.
What Is a Federal Shutdown?
If the term “government shutdown” sounds familiar, it’s because the threat of one happens more often than you think. This kind of shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass a funding bill for multiple or all government agencies, PBS reported. Under a shutdown, no money is allowed in or out of designated federal agencies, which is obviously a problem for the millions of Americans depending on government aid.
Has the Government Shut Down Before?
Short answer: yes.
Since 1980, the U.S. government officially shut down 14 separate times, with the longest one being in 2018 under President Donald Trump’s first term, according to POLITICO. Under that 34-day shutdown, the Departments of Homeland Security, State, Justice, Treasury and others went without funding, Princeton University reported.
What Is the Trump Administration Saying?
President Donald Trump is seemingly unfazed by the threat of a shutdown. “I don’t worry about that,” he said during a phone interview, according to POLITICO, “because people that are smart see what’s happening. The Democrats are deranged.”
Vice President JD Vance championed Trump’s sentiment: “I think we’re headed to a shutdown, because the Democrats won’t do the right thing.”
On the other side, Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are blaming MAGA for the possible shutdown. “It’s now in the President’s hands. He can avoid a shutdown if he gets the Republican leader to go along with what we want,” Schumer said referring to a proposed extension of Obamacare tax credits. Schumer even blasted Trump on X. “If you think your shutdown is a joke, it just proves what we all know: You can’t negotiate,” he said.
Who Will Be Impacted the Most?
The most vulnerable Americans rely directly on the federal government for financial and medical assistance. Most folks on Medicaid and Medicare will likely experience delays after the shutdown, although the federal programs would remain up and running.
Perhaps more devastatingly, research and patient care at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would suffer the most, AP News reported. About 75 percent of NIH’s employees could be suspended without pay, and consequently, patients will go without treatment. On top of certain services being halted by the shutdown, federal employee salaries are also up in the air.
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE are expected to operate with business as usual — thanks to Trump’s ongoing immigration mandate.
Should We Be Worried?
Tensions are high in Congress, which makes any hope of negotiation across the aisle more difficult. A federal shutdown is evident that our top political leaders can’t get on the same page, and the consequences could be detrimental.
In a country where inflation and high grocery costs are still plaguing everyday people, a shutdown won’t be good for the country’s morale. Now we just have to wait for some good news to come out of Congress before midnight Oct. 1.
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