23 Ways the Ongoing Government Shutdown Is Hurting America

As the federal government shutdown drags on, it is officially the longest shutdown in U.S. history and shows no signs of ending. President Donald Trump’s standoff with Congress over funding priorities has paralyzed large parts of the federal system, and millions of Americans are beginning to feel the effects.

What began as a political impasse has now become a test of endurance for workers, families, and businesses alike. While some consequences are immediate—missed paychecks, frozen services—others are rippling quietly through the economy, threatening to reshape everything from public health tracking to national security oversight.

1. Over one million federal workers aren’t getting paid

Roughly 1.3 million federal workers are affected, with hundreds of thousands working without pay and the rest furloughed entirely. Air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and Coast Guard officers continue showing up to work, but their paychecks have stopped. Lawmakers and judges still receive their salaries, since those are constitutionally mandated, though some have pledged to donate or refuse pay during the shutdown. Many families of federal employees are now relying on savings, credit cards, or food banks to get by.

2. Federal contractors are also unpaid—with no back pay guaranteed

Tens of thousands of janitors, security guards, cafeteria workers, and private contractors who keep federal buildings running are in an even worse position. They are not considered government employees and therefore are not legally entitled to back pay once the shutdown ends. Some have already missed multiple rent or mortgage payments and have no safety net.

3. Nutrition programs for low-income families are strained

Federal food aid programs are beginning to buckle. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program, which supports about 6.7 million Americans, is running on limited tariff revenues. If the shutdown continues, benefits could be disrupted entirely. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is also at risk of delayed or reduced payments, affecting millions of the nation’s poorest households.

4. Disease tracking for flu, COVID-19, and RSV is halted

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has paused regular updates on seasonal viruses due to furloughs. This data helps hospitals and state governments prepare for spikes in illness. Without it, local health departments are effectively flying blind, unable to track real-time case numbers or plan for outbreaks.

5. Head Start programs losing funds

Early childhood education centers that depend on federal Head Start funding are beginning to shut their doors. More than 140 programs across 41 states have already missed payments, meaning thousands of children from low-income families may lose access to preschool, meals, and developmental services. Some centers are now relying on emergency donations to keep operating.

6. Obamacare premiums are rising

The shutdown began after a dispute over continuing enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act premiums. Those subsidies have since lapsed, and enrollees are facing steep increases—some exceeding 50 percent. For many low-income families, this makes coverage unaffordable, undermining one of the ACA’s core purposes.

7. Travel delays spreading nationwide

Airports are feeling the strain as unpaid TSA agents and air traffic controllers call in sick or take side jobs to pay bills. The FAA has logged more than 400 staffing shortages during the shutdown. Delays are increasing at major hubs like Atlanta, Denver, and Chicago, with smaller airports warning of potential temporary closures if staffing gaps worsen.

8. Mortgage and home-loan approvals are delayed

Federal mortgage programs, including the Department of Agriculture’s rural housing loans and flood insurance through FEMA, have paused new approvals. Prospective homeowners are seeing closings delayed or canceled altogether. These disruptions are slowing home sales and freezing parts of the real estate market.

9. Small businesses can’t get SBA-backed loans

The Small Business Administration is not processing new government-backed loans, cutting off about $170 million in daily financing. Entrepreneurs who depend on SBA loans to open or expand are stuck waiting, and some risk losing property or contracts in the meantime. The longer the shutdown continues, the more start-ups and family businesses will be forced to scale back or close.

10. Nuclear safety oversight disrupted

For the first time, the National Nuclear Security Administration has furloughed most of its 1,400-person staff. Sites like the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee and the Pantex Plant in Texas are now in “safe shutdown” mode, halting maintenance and security work that ensures the safety of the U.S. nuclear stockpile.

11. Billions in losses to the economy

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the first month of the shutdown alone will cost between $7 billion and $14 billion. The broader economic slowdown could reduce quarterly GDP by 0.1 to 0.2 percent for each week the shutdown drags on. The longer-term costs—to confidence, productivity, and missed investment—will be harder to measure.

12. Federal spending frozen or delayed

Roughly $33 billion in federal spending has already been delayed, including $16 billion in wages, $36 billion in procurement, and $2 billion in SNAP benefits. If the shutdown lasts six weeks, delayed spending could exceed $54 billion, according to the CBO.

13. Critical economic data missing

Because the Labor Department, Census Bureau, and Commerce Department are largely closed, crucial data—on jobs, unemployment, and retail sales—aren’t being collected. The absence of this information leaves the Federal Reserve and financial markets in the dark, heightening the risk of missteps in monetary policy.

14. National cemeteries face backlogs

Burials at national cemeteries continue, but maintenance and headstone placement are delayed. Families of veterans have reported waiting weeks for grave markers or updates on burial scheduling.

15. National parks open but unstaffed

Parks remain accessible, but without paid staff, trash is piling up and facilities are deteriorating. Volunteers are trying to clean up and manage crowds, but as CNN’s Bill Weir reported from Yosemite, closures of visitor centers and restrooms are creating sanitation and safety hazards.

16. Infrastructure projects canceled in blue states

At the beginning of the shutdown, the Trump administration halted roughly $8 billion in infrastructure projects in California and New York—two Democratic strongholds. Officials say the cuts were part of broader budget freezes, but state leaders argue they were politically targeted.

17. Medicare open enrollment disrupted

Because it coincides with open enrollment season, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were forced to recall thousands of furloughed employees to assist seniors. Even so, processing delays are widespread, and many enrollees are struggling to reach help lines.

18. Marriage licenses halted in Washington, D.C.

D.C.’s Superior Court stopped issuing marriage licenses and performing ceremonies because its funding is tied to federal appropriations. The City Council passed an emergency measure to temporarily transfer the responsibility to another office.

19. Fewer IPOs and financial delays

With the Securities and Exchange Commission operating with minimal staff, initial public offerings have slowed dramatically. Several major companies, including tech and biotech firms, have postponed going public until normal operations resume.

20. Regional economies feeling the squeeze

The shutdown is hitting Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia particularly hard. Many residents in those regions are federal workers or contractors, and local businesses report declines in sales of 10 to 15 percent.

21. Consumer confidence slipping

As the shutdown stretches on, Americans are losing faith in the government’s ability to manage basic functions. Surveys show consumer sentiment falling to its lowest point since the 2019 shutdown, raising fears of broader economic slowdown.

22. Private-sector ripple effects

The federal government is the largest single customer in the U.S. economy. When its payments stop, so do countless downstream contracts, supply orders, and research projects. Manufacturers, universities, and local governments that depend on federal grants are all experiencing delays.

23. Disproportionate harm to vulnerable communities

The groups hit hardest are often those with the fewest resources: low-income parents relying on childcare subsidies, seniors waiting for benefits, and BIPOC workers concentrated in lower-paid federal or contractor positions. As union leaders have pointed out, the shutdown is worsening racial and economic inequalities across the country.

The government shutdown is no longer just a budgetary impasse—it is a national strain test. Every additional day without a funding deal deepens the damage, from food security to financial stability. Whether or not lawmakers find a compromise soon, the aftershocks will linger long after the government reopens.

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