For weeks, there has been talk of the big government shutdown, leaving people to wonder whether it would actually happen or not. On Oct. 1, the government officially shut down. But many people don’t fully understand what this means for the U.S. as well as each individual.
First off, let’s figure out what a government shut down even is. When Congress cannot agree on passing spending bills, they bring almost all government activities to a halt. This means most people with a government position will not be paid for however long the shut down lasts. If that seems unfair, Congress and the president will still be working and receiving pay.
Although many branches of government jobs are being temporarily shut down, this is not the case for all. The military will still be in full effect, as well as social security checks, mail, and yes, taxes. Unfortunately, many activities people enjoy in the United States are closed. National zoos, parks and museums, such as the Smithsonian, can no longer be visited until the shut down period has ended.
Gun permits will be put on hold as well. This means anyone in the application process won’t be able to receive a permit until the shut down finishes. If that isn’t enough, loans will not be given out to anyone either. This means anyone buying a house or operating a business will have to wait. And, although we don’t consider how helpful trash collection is, we will soon learn how it feels to have a pile up of garbage. Trash collectors’ jobs are being put on hold as well
The reason all of this is happening is because every single branch of government is funded differently. Every year, Congress discusses how they will be funded for the year to come. This time, members simply could not agree on how certain branches should be funded. Unfortunately, this results in a government shut down, until they can figure out a way to come to an agreement.
You might be wondering when this will all end. Congress is not required to take action at any time. This means they can sit at home and keep the shut down for as long as they want. But depending on how much pressure they receive, the shut down could last anywhere from a few days to weeks. Although this is an event we should all be aware of, there is no need to panic. Our country will get through this no matter what happens.