How the government shutdown affects us

Now that the government’s partial shutdown is entering its fourth week, Americans are asking not just how long it will last, but also how it affects them and those close to them. For hundreds of thousands of government workers the answer is obvious. They have gone without at least one paycheck and are likely to miss another.

Some, such as TSA security workers at airports are working, but without pay. There are resultant callouts for some who understandably resist working at least for now for free. Other “non-essential” workers are furloughed until further notice.

Essential workers include agents from the FBI, ATF, Drug Enforcement Agency and Secret Service who are currently working without pay. Both essential and non-essential groups may receive back pay when the government reopens.

A number of National Parks — while not officially closed — have remained unstaffed and trash and garbage have been piling up. Contract workers likely will never see payment for this time out of work.

The reason the shutdown is referred to as a “partial” shutdown is because some allocations were already approved in 2018 and those budgetary items are unaffected. Notably among them is the Department of Defense. However, oddly, the U.S. Coast Guard is not included in the defense allocation and Coast Guard workers are currently working without pay.

Many observations made here are subject to change as those in charge shift course as to what activities of government will continue on and which would not. Therefore, anything stated here would need to be checked by readers on a regular basis. This is a best case estimate as of the time of writing.

Note, for instance, the IRS. Thousands of Internal Revenue Service employees were furloughed, The shutdown, the 21st since the modern federal