It’s been over a week since the U.S. government shutdown began, and the effects are still being felt. Millions of federal workers have been without pay, businesses have been hit hard, and the nation as a whole is feeling the pinch. If you’re one of those people who feels like you don’t know what to do or where to turn, fear not! In this blog post, we’re going to walk you through step-by-step guide on how to cope during and after the government shutdown. Best of luck!
What is a government shutdown?
A government shutdown is a situation in which the United States federal government is not operating because Congress has not passed a budget. A shutdown can happen for a number of reasons, such as when the Senate does not have the required 60 votes to override a presidential veto. In 2013, there were also 16 partial government shutdowns.
How did we get here?
The government shutdown was the longest ever, lasting over 29 days. It started on December 22nd and ended on January 25th. This article will tell you how it all happened, step-by-step.
First, we have to go back to October 1st when President Trump announced that he would be using his emergency powers to build a wall along the Mexican border. This announcement sparked outrage from many Democrats and some Republicans.
Then, on November 28th, Speaker Ryan agreed to put something called a “CR” (Continuing Resolution) on the table that would keep the government open until February 8th. The CR passed in the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate.
This is where things started to get complicated. On December 6th, President Trump signed an Executive Order declaring a national emergency due to the lack of funding for his wall. This caused a lot of uproar from both sides of the political spectrum as this is not what was outlined in Ryan’s CR.
On December 20th, Congress passed a bill that would fund the government for three months but did not include money for President Trump’s wall or any other immigration related issues. This created more drama as it appeared that Republicans were trying to force President Trump into backing down on his wall promise.
On January 9th, President Trump issued another Executive Order asking for $5 billion in funding for his wall which polarized Congress even further
What are the effects of the shutdown?
The government shutdown was the longest ever, lasting for 21 days. Its effects were felt across the nation. Here are just a few of the ways it impacted everyday Americans.
Loss of Pay: About 800,000 federal workers did not receive back pay during the shutdown. This includes employees like police officers, firefighters and national parks rangers. These workers missed out on their regular income and had to take out loans or go without basic necessities like food or heat.
Impacts on Transportation: The shutdown caused a huge disruption in transportation services. Bus stops and train stations were closed, which made commuting very difficult for many people. In addition, some airlines cancelled flights and delayed others due to the lack of crews and pilots. This led to hundreds of thousands of travelers experiencing inconvenience or even being stranded during the shutdown.
Safety Risks: During a government shutdown, there is an increased risk of accidents because essential personnel are not available to handle emergencies. There have been reports of dangerous goods spills and injuries sustained as a result of this type of situation.
The economic impact of the shutdown was also significant. Many small businesses saw their profits decline because they could not do business with federal agencies that were closed down. This has led to layoffs and other job losses throughout the economy.
Who is affected?
The longest U.S. government shutdown in history is officially over, but many people are still affected by it. The shutdown started on December 22nd and lasted for 29 days. Here is a step-by-step guide to help those who were impacted:
If you are an employee of the government:
1) Make sure you have your basic documents, like your ID and passport, ready in case you are called into work during the shutdown. You may be required to show proof of your employment if you are asked to stay home. If you can’t work during the shutdown, make sure you take time off so that you’re not working two jobs at once.
2) Don’t forget about your vacation time! Most federal agencies will let employees accrue vacation time even if they’re not working, so make sure to use it if necessary.
3) Keep in mind that any changes or updates to your personnel file – including promotions or demotions – will likely not happen while the shutdown is happening. Once it’s over, go ahead and file any necessary paperwork with your agency.
4) Make arrangements for disability benefits if needed – this includes both workers who were temporarily furloughed and employees who were actually out of work because of the shutdown.
If you’re a taxpayer:
1) IRS offices will be closed throughout the shutdown period, so don’t expect help from them unless there’s an emergency
How can I prepare for a government shutdown?
Planning for a government shutdown is not as daunting as you may think. Here are some steps to take:
1) Understand the basics of how a government shutdown works: A government shutdown is a partial or complete closure of federal services and employees due to congressional inaction on appropriations. The first and most recent government shutdown was in 2013, and lasted for 16 days. The longest shutdown in U.S. history occurred from October 1-22, 1995, and lasted for 21 days.
2) Learn about the appropriation process: Appropriations are the specific funds that Congress approves every year in order to fund specific government programs. The bills that establish these appropriations are known as “appropriation bills.” Without appropriations, key government functions will come to a halt.
3) Keep an eye on upcoming deadlines: Most major agencies have mandatory spending requirements that must be met before certain services can be discontinued or reduced. For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs must continue providing benefits even if there’s a partial shut down of the federal government. If these deadlines are missed, the agency could run out of funding and be forced to suspend operations prematurely.
4) Make preparations well in advance: When it comes to planning for a government shutdown, it’s important to start early so there aren’t any last-minute surprises. Make sure you have all your contact information handy so you can keep in touch with what’s happening during the shutdown and update
What to do if you’re impacted by the shutdown
If you’re impacted by the shutdown, there are a few things you can do to help make the situation less stressful. Here are some steps to take:
1. Make sure you have all of your documents in order. If you need a document to prove your identity, for example, make sure you have copies of that document ready. You may also want to bring along copies of important personal documents, such as your driver’s license or birth certificate, if they’re relevant to the situation.
2. Prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the shutdown. It may be tough, but try not to let it get to you. The most important thing is that you stay positive and stay focused on getting through this ordeal as quickly as possible.
3. Stay informed about the shutdown situation. Keep up with news stories and updates online to get a sense of what’s going on and what steps you need to take next. There will be a lot of information available during these difficult times, so don’t hesitate to ask questions if something isn’t clear.
4. Connect with friends and family members who are still able to visit or communicate with them. This will help keep everyone connected and informed about each other’s progress during the shutdown.
5. Obtain supplemental income if necessary. If your income is impacted by the shutdown, consider seeking out supplemental income options such as freelance work or temp jobs that pay via check or online payment system rather than via direct deposit into your
If the shutdown continues on Thursday, October 10th, many services will be affected. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Social Security and Medicare benefits will continue as normal.
2. Federal agencies that operate on a pay-as-you-go basis (like the Department of Motor Vehicles) will not be able to operate.
3. The National Mall will close at 5 p.m., but other attractions open as usual.
4. Air travel is expected to be impacted in several ways: Airlines are cancelling flights, rerouting planes, or delaying them by hours due to congestion caused by the shutdown. This could result in delays or lost baggage if you’re travelling during the shutdown period.
5. Tax refunds may take longer than normal to process because IRS processing is also slowed down by the shutdown.
What can I do if I don’t want to wait for the shutdown to end?
If you are one of the many Americans who are fed up with the government shutdown, there are a few things you can do to try and end it.
The first step is to learn about the different options that are available to you.
There are two primary ways that the government shutdown can be ended: by passing legislation through Congress or by agreeing to raise funds through a compromise between President Trump and the Democratic Party.
Passing Legislation Through Congress
If you want to see the government reopened as soon as possible, your best bet is to hope that Congress passes legislation to end the shutdown. This would require both Republican and Democratic votes, so it’s not guaranteed to happen. However, there have been previous occasions where this has happened, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for updates in case something changes.
One option that has been mentioned is a bill called “The Dream Act of 2019″ which would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. It has bipartisan support and could be a good way to show President Trump that he needs Democrats if he wants the government reopened quickly.
Raising Funds Through Compromise Between President Trump and the Democratic Party
Another option is for President Trump and the Democratic Party to reach a compromise on funding for agencies affected by the shutdown. This could involve either providing more money for certain agencies or giving them more flexibility
Conclusion
During the government shutdown, many people were impacted in different ways. If you’re one of those people who relies on federal programs to help support your day-to-day life, then this shutdown was definitely frustrating for you. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cope with the government shutdown and ensure that you remain as unaffected as possible.
