WASHINGTON (AP) — The first week is easy. Pressure to resolve the federal government shutdown will gradually increase as the government shutdown continues Entering the second week And as government workers are unable to pay their salaries and critical programs are underfunded.
Here are some upcoming pressure points that could have a big impact on closure resolution.
missed a paycheck
The next payday for U.S. military personnel is October 15th. There are approximately 1.3 million active-duty military members in the United States, and the possibility that these soldiers will go unpaid will be a major focus as lawmakers debate the negative effects of the shutdown on Capitol Hill.
“Right now, young airmen and soldiers are being sent around the world to protect our freedoms, but they are leaving their young families at home,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson. “They are relying on the Oct. 15 check.”
Paydays for federal employees vary by agency. The Bipartisan Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank, says the majority of civilian workers will receive some paychecks between Oct. 10 and 15, reflecting the number of days worked before the shutdown began.
Civilians at the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services, and several other agencies will see their checks completely delinquent for the first time on Oct. 24, while most other federal employees will see their pay delinquent for the first time on Oct. 28. This includes air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration personnel stationed at airport security checkpoints.
If you don’t get paid even once, you’ll be in big trouble. If salaries are not paid twice, political pressure will boil over.
air travel
For many Americans, the government shutdown is a distant event with no personal impact. But for the flying public, that could soon change.
The partial shutdown, the nation’s longest during President Donald Trump’s first term, ended shortly after a lack of unpaid air traffic controllers who became ill led to grounded flights at LaGuardia Airport and delays at other major airports.
already Frequent delays At many airports across the country. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there has been an increase in air traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown began. The biggest problems so far have been at small airports in Burbank, Calif., and Nashville, Tenn., with delays of more than two hours, but there have been no major ripple effects nationwide.
But major hubs in Chicago, Newark, New Jersey and Denver have also experienced delays due to staffing issues, and the continued shortage of air traffic controllers could cause further problems. Even a few missing controllers in critical locations can cause major disruption. Earlier this year, only five air traffic controllers were placed on leave after radar failures; chaotic traffic In Newark.
“This is something that is felt very strongly by travelers who don’t even know what a government shutdown is or the mechanics and politics surrounding it,” said Rachel Snyderman, managing director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “You go to the Transportation Security Administration and expect a 30-minute line, but that turns into three hours.”
Duffy and the head of the union representing air traffic controllers said the closures: add serious concerns For workers who already have stressful jobs.
Sarah Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said: “They are coming to work under increasingly unsafe scenarios, because we know the first rule of staying safe is to remove all distractions.” “What could be more distracting than not getting paid?”
food aid
Also known as the $8 Billion Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WICas well as offering coupons for purchasing infant milk. fresh fruits and vegetableslow-fat milk and other healthy staple foods are often economically unaffordable for low-income households.
The program is sustained by a $150 million emergency fund, but experts say it could run out quickly.
States could then pay for the program and seek reimbursement when the money eventually passes, although not all states have said they can afford to do so. Nearly 7 million women and young children rely on nutrition and health support through the program.
The White House announced Tuesday that the tariff revenue would be used to strengthen the program, but gave no details on how such a transfer would work.
The National WIC Association, an advocacy group, said it welcomes any efforts to keep WIC open, but key details remain unclear, including how much funding will be provided, when it will be distributed and how long it will last.
“WIC needs year-round funding, not just a temporary lifeline,” said Georgia Machel, the group’s president and CEO.
Meanwhile, the White House announced that SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, will continue through October until the program’s funds, including the reserve fund, are exhausted. Approximately 41.7 million people, or approximately 12% of U.S. residents, participate in the program each month.
tourism and parks
The Smithsonian Institution and National Zoo will remain open until October 11, after which they will be closed to the public. The closure will serve as a stark reminder of its impact on the thousands of people who visit the capital each day.
Meanwhile, the National Park Service says on its website that “parks will remain as accessible as possible during the federal government shutdown. However, some services may be limited or unavailable.”
Kristen Brengel, executive vice president of the National Park Conservation Association, said more than a quarter of national park sites, many of them historic properties, are inaccessible because of lockable gates, but large parks without gates remain essentially open to the public.
The U.S. Travel Association, an industry group, estimates the domestic travel industry has already lost $1 billion in spending due to the closures.
“The longer this goes on, the more severe the chain of harm will be for local communities, small businesses and the country,” said Jeff Freeman, the group’s president and CEO.
economic damage
Federal government shutdowns usually do not leave significant economic damage. But this time may be different, with President Trump threatening to use the conflict to eliminate thousands of government jobs.
Ryan Sweet, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, estimates that the federal government shutdown and the temporary loss of income for federal employees could reduce annual domestic growth by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points in the fourth quarter for each week the government is shut down. Some will be collected after reopening.
The government shutdown has also led to pauses and delays in the collection of economic data, making it difficult for the Federal Reserve to make its next interest rate decisions. The White House says closures will affect business decision-making because uncertainty tends to lead to lower business investment.
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Associated Press staff writer Josh Funk contributed to this report from Omaha, Nebraska.
