The U.S. is headed for a government shutdown as Congress enters the chamber Tuesday. A tentative plan on funding needs to be reached in order for the country to avoid this national pause, and college students could see a direct effect on their own lives due to a shutdown.
The government has until Saturday to pass 12 spending bills to stop a shutdown, as that’s when the federal budget restarts and bills must be renegotiated. With Republicans holding the majority in the House, it’s up to them to agree on a spending bill. According to TIME, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is trying to push a consensus with hard-right conservatives looking to use the shutdown to their advantage.
Congress plans to vote Tuesday evening on a package of spending bills, but according to the Associated Press, it’s unclear if there’s enough support for the bills to pass. Meanwhile, the Senate is attempting to pass a bipartisan plan to fund offices past Saturday.
If we end up going into a government shutdown, the House and Senate will need to agree on a way to fund the government, and the president will have to sign the legislation. It’s impossible to predict how long a shutdown could last.
Sometimes Congress will pass a continuing resolution to provide money to keep government offices open as budget talks continue. The Associated Press reports some Republicans say a temporary bill is a non-starter and they plan on shutting the government down until all the bills have been completely negotiated.
Millions of federal workers will face delayed paychecks if the government shuts down, including military personnel and federal workers across the country. This includes Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, agents who operate security at airports and Postal Service workers who deliver mail.
According to CNN, in the past, members of the TSA were often called out of work during government shutdowns in order to find other ways to make money. This could mean significant delays and longer wait times at airports across the country.
The Department of Education warned there could be some level of disruption to large student aid programs, including Pell Grants, during a shutdown. The nation’s schools could also face disruptions in federal funding, with approximately 1 in 10 school districts receiving more than 15% of its funds from federally funded programs.
The economy may take a hit as the Bureau of Labor Statistics says it will stop releasing data. Recruitment for jobs may also slow with a government shutdown. This includes jobs with the Peace Corps, the State Department and the Defense Department.
If anyone is trying to apply for government services like clinical trials, firearm permits and passports, they could see delays. Additionally, federal contractors or tourist services around national parks could see disruptions due to the shutdown. Food and housing assistance programs may also see some disruptions in a shutdown.
Ohio Representatives and Senators alike say they are working hard to stop a government shutdown from occurring, according to Cleveland.com. Much of their focus is on how this would affect Ohio’s business and the military.
It will be extremely important for college students to pay attention to whether or not this shutdown goes into effect. If students have any travel plans in the near future or need help with federal loans, they could see some disruptions. It’ll be interesting to see how lawmakers prioritize spending bills over the next week.
Claire Schiopota is a senior studying journalism. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want Claire to cover a certain topic or talk about her column? Email her at cs123719@ohio.edu or tweet her @CSchiopota.
