With Democrats and Republicans deadlocked over a spending plan that would reopen federal agencies, millions of Americans are facing economic hardships that could get worse. The fiscal cliff means millions of Americans could miss out on food aid, thousands of soldiers could have to work without pay, and millions more could be left without heat.
The US government shutdown has entered its fifth week, with no clear end in sight. With Democrats and Republicans deadlocked over a spending plan that would reopen federal agencies, millions of Americans are facing economic hardships that could get worse. The fiscal cliff means millions of Americans could miss out on food aid, thousands of soldiers could have to work without pay, and millions more could be left without heat. Here’s how the shutdown has affected ordinary people:
FOOD AID
More than 40 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed themselves and their families. While the program had enough funds to survive the first four weeks of the shutdown, the Trump administration has said the funds will run out on November 1. On Saturday, SNAP benefits, also known as “food stamps,” could be cut for the first time in the program’s history. SNAP is a vital lifeline that keeps many families out of poverty, Princeton University professor Hannah Garth, who studies food insecurity, told the BBC.
Organizations that provide food to people in need are already under pressure, and the loss of SNAP will make the situation worse, she added.
On Thursday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency so the state can “help the three million state residents who are losing food assistance” due to the government shutdown. SNAP enrollees have begun stockpiling food and visiting organizations as they wait for the impasse on Capitol Hill to be resolved. Half the states and the District of Columbia have sued President Donald Trump’s administration for blocking food assistance. The administration, for its part, has blamed Democrats for the lack of funding and said it would use the SNAP emergency fund only in cases of natural disasters.
The federal government distributes SNAP benefits through state-run programs. Some states, like Virginia, have said they will be able to make up the funding shortfall in November, but others, like Massachusetts, have said they cannot cover the difference.
ARMY PAY
If the Trump administration doesn’t intervene, more than a million members of the U.S. military will not receive their paychecks on Friday. About a quarter of military families are considered food insecure, and 15% of them rely on SNAP or food banks, according to the research firm Rand. Meanwhile, the Military Family Advisory Network estimates that 27% of families have less than $500 in emergency savings.
The Pentagon has accepted a $130 million “gift” from a wealthy donor to help with salaries during the shutdown, but that only translates to about $100 for each of the 1.3 million active-duty soldiers.
The White House plans to pay troops on Oct. 31 using money from military housing, research and development and defense procurement funds, according to Axios. Earlier this month, the administration managed to pay salaries by shifting $6.5 billion from military research funds. More than 160 families have notified the National Association of Military Families that they were paid less during the shutdown, some by hundreds, others by thousands of dollars.
HEATING DURING THE COLD WINTER
About six million Americans use a federal assistance program called the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to pay utility bills. The government typically sends LIHEAP funds to energy companies in mid-November. Temperatures have already begun to drop in northern areas, where Americans heat their homes with propane, electricity or natural gas.
Many states prohibit gas and electric companies from cutting off service to those who don’t pay, but those rules don’t apply to propane or heating oil. Experts warn that thousands of people could face life-threatening conditions if the government doesn’t reopen or impose a national ban on cutting off heat during the shutdown.
FEDERAL CIVIL EMPLOYEES
Thousands of Americans who work as federal civil servants will lose their pay this week. For many of them, the impact has become increasingly severe over time. Some received pay for a week or two, while others have not seen a dollar since Oct. 1. Among those who will go without pay this week are congressional aides on Capitol Hill.
Food banks across the US are reporting an increase in the number of federal employees seeking assistance, especially in Washington, DC.
If the shutdown continues through Dec. 1, about 4.5 million federal civilian employees will be withheld, representing about $21 billion in lost wages, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. Suspended employees are usually paid after the shutdown ends, but Trump has threatened not to pay them and is trying to lay off thousands of workers, a move that is being challenged in court.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
Thousands of air traffic controllers lost their first paychecks this week. Considered essential workers, they must continue working without pay during the shutdown. Since Oct. 1, many have called in sick or taken on second jobs to survive. As a result, thousands of U.S. travelers have faced widespread flight delays. “The problems are increasing every day,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said at a press conference this week.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said many of the recent delays were due to a shortage of inspectors. Duffy warned that they could be fired if they don’t show up. (BBC)
