FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The US federal government has shut down after Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to resolve a budget impasse.
The shutdown affects funding for government operations through October and beyond, and is poised to cause widespread disruptions for Americans in areas ranging from air travel to zoo visits.
The political deadlock is also expected to put 40% of the federal workforce, about 800,000 people, on unpaid leave.
Here's how its impact will be felt across the country.
Your next flight
A federal shutdown will hit travelers in a number of ways, potentially leading to long security lines and delays caused by unpaid air traffic controllers choosing to stay home rather than work for free.
Air traffic control and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are considered "essential," so they will continue to go to work in the event of a shutdown.
But they won't be paid until the shutdown is over. During the last shutdown in 2018-2019, these workers increasingly began calling in sick, leading to delays at the airport.
The impact will also be felt by Americans planning to travel abroad, with US passport agencies warning that it may take longer than usual to process travel documents.
No work or pay for federal employees
Federal employees are expected to be hit hardest, as they will not receive any paychecks while the shutdown continues.
Some employees may choose to take on second jobs, as they have done during previous shutdowns. Non-essential workers will be forced to stay home. In the past, these employees have been paid retrospectively.
Some agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, are likely to suspend many employees, affecting ongoing research and experiments that are already underway.
President Donald Trump, who has slashed government spending and cut federal jobs since taking office, repeatedly warned that a shutdown could precipitate further layoffs and allow him to cut services and programs that he says are important to Democrats.
Contractors, who work for federal agencies but are not directly employed by the government, will also lose their jobs. These workers have historically not received any back pay, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
National Parks without staff
Federal lands, including National Parks and National Forests, have been closed to visitors during past shutdowns, as rangers and other employees were asked to stay home.
During the last shutdown, the Trump administration made the decision to leave the parks open, with few or no federal employees there to staff them.
According to park advocates, the decision led to vandalism in the parks, as visitors wandered through protected landscapes, looted historic sites, and left extensive trash.
A group of more than 40 former park superintendents have called on the White House to completely close the parks in the event of a shutdown.
“We don’t leave museums open without curators, or airports without air traffic controllers, and we shouldn’t leave our national parks open without National Park Service employees,” said Emily Thompson of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.
Visit to the zoo
The famous museums of Washington's Smithsonian Institution will remain open at least until next Monday, October 6. On the Smithsonian's website, the organization said it had money available from previous years to help it stay open.
Animals at the National Zoo "will continue to be fed and cared for," according to the Smithsonian, which runs the zoo.
But the popular cameras will be turned off, as they have been deemed non-essential by zoo staff. The suspension of broadcasts will spoil viewers' chance to see the zoo's pandas, lions, elephants and mice.
Healthcare for the elderly and the poor
Medicare and Medicaid, social health programs for the elderly and the poor, will continue, but staffing shortages could lead to some disruptions to certain services.
Emergency disaster relief is also expected to be largely unaffected, however other work carried out by disaster agencies will be affected.
The National Flood Insurance Program will close, delaying some mortgages for properties that require policies from the government-run program.
But if the shutdown is extended, it is possible that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) could run out of money for its Disaster Relief Fund.
Food assistance programs will also be affected, with the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) expected to quickly run out of funds.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) is expected to continue longer, but it is also at risk of running out of funds.
Lini një Përgjigje