Another Government Shutdown

The federal government officially ceased operations at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, due to a lack of negotiations and Congress's failure to reach an agreement. There is currently no indication of how long the shutdown will persist, and the White House budget office is advising agencies to brace for widespread layoffs in light of the funding interruption.

While each government shutdown has its unique characteristics, let’s focus on the specific impacts this one will have on North Carolina. In North Carolina, a significant number of non-essential government employees are anticipated to be furloughed, including those from the Department of Health and Human Services, the IRS, and the National Park Service. This shutdown will lead to delayed paychecks for these workers until a resolution is achieved.

Additionally, several federal programs will be affected, including SNAP and the WIC program. However, Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare will not face immediate disruptions. In total, the federal government has undergone 14 shutdowns since 1980, with the most recent one occurring in 2018, lasting for 35 days.