About 800,000 federal employees in the U.S. have not received a paycheck in over three weeks due to the government shutdown. The shutdown began at midnight on Saturday, December 22, 2018. Approximately 380,000 workers are on unpaid leave, meaning that they have worked for over the past couple of weeks. The shutdown is affecting thousands of families. Many cannot pay off their bills and meet the needs of their families. What is the cause of the shutdown? Who is affected by it? What steps are people taking to help their neighbors? Whether Republican or Democrat, both sides agree that there should be a quick and effective solution to this national conflict.

A government shutdown occurs when Congress does not release necessary funds to pay the individuals who work for the U.S. government and when federal programs shutdown. On January 3, 2019, the house proposed and approved a bill that did not contain money for a steel barrier wall between the United States and Mexico. The senate refuses to vote on the bill because President Donald Trump will not sign it. The President approved to shut down the government until congress agreed to fund the $5.7 billion wall that he wants to build.

The shutdown has affected many people in different ways. People have to provide essentials such as food for themselves and their families. Even people who work or receive a check from federal workers are affected. Florida its self has 138,872 federal workers and 13,061 of them are a part of the agency that is directly touched by the shutdown. “NY times.com” explains the account of sixth grade girl in Arlington, Virginia. Stella is anxious on whether she will be able to go on a camping trip in June or whether her parents will be able to pay for her braces. The “shutdown makes me nervous”, this young girl says. TSA workers, construction workers, and IRS employees are among the many groups that have been influenced by the shutdown.

In addition, national parks and landmarks have been impacted by the shutdown. The National Parks Service (NPS) declared alerts of closure at 387 parks. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed many of its restrooms and declared certain parts of the parks as being off – limits to visitors. Human waste and full trash cans have been sighted due to the absence of the employees who work in those departments. This creates restrictions for many travelers, as Washington D.C. is a widely visited capital.All Smithsonian Museums and Zoos have been shut down during this period.

Some groups have taken steps in an effort to ease the weight that the shutdown has put on many people’s shoulders; credit unions are offering assistance services. Businesses like T- Mobile and Verizon are lowering their fees. Food banks have opened up to help those who are struggling to find meals.

The current government shutdown is the longest shutdown in American history. People in schools, at work, and at home are being affected by the shutdown.

Sources:
usatoday.com
thebalance.com
nytimes.com
cnn.com