Republicans and Democrats must agree to end the shutdown because it can cause major issues if it continues.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers’ inability to reach a consensus on a funding bill caused the government’s official shutdown since Oct. 1.
According to The BBC, “They (Democrats) want to see an extension of expiring tax credits which make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans and for a reversal of Trump’s cuts to Medicaid, a government healthcare program used by millions of elderly, disabled and low-income people.”
The temporary funding bill directed at preventing a government shutdown was passed in the House, but unfortunately, it did not gain the necessary support in the Senate to advance further. About 1.4 million federal employees are currently unpaid or working without pay as a result of this dispute, which has led to the partial suspension of some U.S. government services.
The current government shutdown impacts many Americans who are feeling its effects through the reduction of various government services and their lifestyle changes. Those dependent on government programs are left in doubt, while households face the pain of halted essential services.
Such an instance is a strong argument for the existence of a government that is not only necessary but also must be stable and efficient. The shutdown will continue to bring additional hardships to numerous individuals and families who rely on the government for employment and/or services.
Additionally, college students will also be affected by the shutdown if it persists.
The financial aid processing program will probably be very slow or frozen altogether during the shutdown. Such a situation creates a lot of problems, especially with the upcoming academic semester. Seniors in high school are now applying for financial aid, which is the most important thing for their college transition. Hence, with these possible delays, students may not get their Pell Grants or student loans in time, thus creating a severe problem for managing necessities such as paying for tuition and housing, which are usually paid for in advance of the classes.
The Department of Defense and veteran students may also suffer from interruptions of their academic benefits, which can lead to an inability to pay for tuition and housing. A disruption in benefits can cause a financial burden and a delay in academic progress.
University research that depends on grants from the federal government may be delayed or stopped altogether, and this, in turn, will affect the progress and funding of graduate students and university research laboratories. The lack of such a resource can result in the halting of critical experiments due to limited access to certain materials.
In addition, internships with government agencies could be suspended. Suspension of these internships can cause students to miss out on valuable experience and networking opportunities. This could lead to a reduction in training opportunities for students pursuing careers in public service or related fields.
The likelihood of various changes occurring increases significantly if the government fails to reach a satisfactory, timely agreement. If decisions are not made quickly, many people will need to find alternative ways to support themselves. This situation could result in an overflow of negative effects, including increased unemployment, rising dropout rates in educational institutions, and increased reliance on social services, all of which could compromise the stability and functionality of our communities. When individuals are expected to maintain their jobs or continue their education without proper funding and compensation, the stability and functionality of our systems will be severely compromised. Therefore, the government must act swiftly and decisively to avoid these detrimental outcomes.
