NEW YORK (AP) — Longest government shutdown in U.S. history It’s over, at least on paper. But the American people aren’t done with it yet. Getting everything back up and running doesn’t happen all at once.
The disruption of the closure occurred over a period of 43 days, and its impact was mixed. Some people, such as unpaid federal employees, were immediately and directly affected. Others include those who receive federal funding through programs such as Head Start and those who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
As the shutdown progressed, the effects were felt. Passenger delays and flight cancellations began to increase after the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to reduce flights due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The Smithsonian Institution grounds and the National Zoo were closed (although the animals were fed).
There are many programs, institutions, and systems. Getting back to “normal” won’t happen quickly. Here’s the guide after reopening:
federal employee
What happened: About 1.25 million federal workers have not been paid since October 1, according to official estimates, and about $16 billion in unpaid wages. Workers were furloughed or forced to work without pay in federal government agencies. During that time, many people struggled to make a living and the local economy around Washington, D.C., suffered.
Now: The Office of Personnel Management, which manages the Civil Service, posted on X that federal employees are expected to return Thursday, saying, “Employees are expected to start on time. Normal operating procedures remain in effect.” Wages owed to workers will be paid by November 19, a government official said. The money will be disbursed in four installments depending on the government agency, a senior government official said.
Helpful against heat
What happened: The closure coincided with falling temperatures and $4.1 billion in funding. Low-income housing energy assistance program has been suspendedsome states have delayed paying their heating bills.
Current status: A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that agencies within HHS will “work quickly to administer the annual awards,” but did not provide a timeline. Mark Wolf, executive director of the National Association of Energy Assistance Directors, said it could take until mid-December or longer. Wolf said recipients should still submit an application and let the utility know they’re waiting for funds. It is even more difficult for those who rely on oil or propane, as there is usually no protection. Recipients must confirm their state. Vermont has promised to backfill the funds and Connecticut will cover the cost.
flight disruption
What happened: The shutdown caused significant disruption to the aviation industry, with increasingly unpaid air traffic controllers losing their jobs and some taking up second jobs to cope with financial pressures. Those staffing shortages, combined with some worrying safety data, prompted the government to order airlines to cut some flights over the past week to relieve pressure on the system.
What to do now: While the cuts are not increasing at this time, the Federal Aviation Administration will not lift the order until safety metrics improve. airline says They expect to resume normal operations Soon after that. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers and other FAA employees will receive 70% of their back pay within 24 to 48 hours after the shutdown ends, with the remainder due in the future.
Federal Social Program: SNAP
What happened: The most high-profile impact of the shutdown was SNAP programserves approximately 42 million low-income households (approximately 1 in 8 Americans). a series of court decisions And due to a change in policy from the Trump administration, benefits for November will be distributed in a patchwork manner. Some states were already providing full benefits, but about two-thirds were only providing partial benefits or no benefits at all.
Now: On Thursday, state officials said: Work quickly for maximum benefits To the millions of people who have missed their regular monthly payments. Some states said SNAP recipients should receive their full monthly benefits starting Thursday or Friday, which could take up to a week.
Federal Social Programs: A Head Start
What happened: When it comes to head starts, the shutdown delayed federal aid payments. Some affected centers remained open by furloughing some staff or drawing on emergency reserves. Some childcare facilities were forced to shut down, serving thousands of families. Head Start serves children from birth to age 5 who come from families that meet federal low-income guidelines, are homeless, or receive public assistance. The program provides preschool education, developmental testing and free meals.
What to do now: Head Start will expedite funding and contact affected programs directly to share when they can expect federal funding, said Emily Hilliard, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The office is already operating at reduced capacity after experiencing significant layoffs earlier this year. But even if the program receives funding, program leaders are concerned about staffing shortages if too many furloughed employees have already found other jobs. Some advocates said it could take weeks for some programs across the country to receive funding and resume operations.
tax
What happened: The Internal Revenue Service closed its walk-in assistance center.
Now: The center has reopened. The agency said all tax deadlines remain in effect, but paper communications have been backed up during the shutdown and responses will be delayed. Social Security recipients continued to receive payments during the shutdown. Local offices also remained open but temporarily suspended some services, including replacing Medicare cards and updating earnings records.
education
What happened: The Department of Education laid off 466 Department of Education employees in a cross-government layoff aimed at putting pressure on Democratic lawmakers over the government shutdown. Those layoffs had been halted by a federal judge. The department furloughed 2,117 employees at the beginning of the shutdown, but some employees have returned for essential work. New subsidies were also put on hold during the closure. Most school districts received the bulk of their federal funding over the summer, but some aid has been delayed.
Now: The department announced Thursday that it has brought back all furloughed employees and those who were laid off during the Trump administration. mass shooting. recipient impact aidwhich would increase the budget for school districts with large amounts of federal land that cannot be taxed to local schools, was waiting to see when payments would be processed.
army
What happened: U.S. military personnel responded. weeks of anxiety Will I be able to continue working and still get paid? The Trump administration finally found a way to pay soldiers during the two pay periods during the shutdown. However, the process was fraught with difficulties. The government discovered the money a few days before each paycheck. For many service members who received early direct deposit, their paychecks arrived days later than usual, disrupting their ability to pay their bills and forcing some to pay late fees and take on debt. Reimbursements for interbase travel, which affects about 400,000 military families each year, were suspended during the closure, advocates said. And many reservists’ weekend training has been canceled, leaving them without significant paychecks that can amount to hundreds of dollars each month.
Now: Pentagon civilians began returning Thursday. The Air Force said civilians can take up to a week of administrative leave and work remotely, according to a memo provided to The Associated Press. Military officials said the impact on active-duty soldiers was minimal.
national park
What happened: This country’s national parks Almost open We will survive the shutdown with limited staffing. external group And state governments worked together during the shutdown to keep visitor centers open and help clean up trash at many parks. The Trump administration then used previously collected admission fees to pay for restroom cleaning and other basic services. However, these efforts did not stop the vandalism. Features of damaged rocks Along the Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park, Utah knock down a stone wall Devil’s Den, Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania.
Now: National Park Service employees ordered back to work Thursday. Kristen Brengel of the National Park Conservation Association said it will take time for rangers to fully survey the park, including remote areas, and more damage could be discovered. No fees were collected during the closure, costing the park about $1 million a day in lost revenue.
Art museum/museum
What happened: The Smithsonian Institution and National Zoo closed for the first time on October 12th. It’s usually open every day except Christmas. Together, its 20 facilities hosted more than 16 million people last year, and the organization employs more than 3,600 federal employees. While the zoo was closed, the popular livestream feed that captured the famous giant panda was offline. Usually active social media pages that share animal updates and colorful photos were silent. The animals will continue to be fed and cared for.
What’s happening now: Two of the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall were scheduled to reopen Friday, the American History Museum and the Air and Space Museum. The organization announced on its website that the remaining Smithsonian institutions in the Washington area and New York will gradually reopen by Monday.
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Associated Press journalists Tia Goldenberg, David A. Reeve, Makiya Seminella, Susan Haig, Josh Funk, RJ Rico, Annie Ma, Ben Finley, Konstantin Tropin, Matthew Brown and Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report from across the country.
