How the partial federal government shutdown affects Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Hunger relief advocates and members of Congress said Wednesday the government shutdown’s impacts will ultimately depend on how long it lasts.

The shutdown does not affect programs that are considered mandatory. That means Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits all will be delivered as normal, as will the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Unemployment benefits will continue as long as state agencies have the administrative funds to process them.

In addition, the country’s major food assistance programs already have received their funding for October. Those programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called SNAP and formerly known as food stamps, the Women, Infants, and Children program, or WIC, and various school meal programs.

Emily Bryant, the executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, said the key for food assistance programs is how long the shutdown lasts. She said those programs could start to run out of money in early November or possibly even late October.

“During a prolonged shutdown, food banks and meal programs will likely face increased demand on top of sustained high need,” Bryant said. “As need arises, our member food banks will continue to show up for our community, but meeting this challenge requires all of us.”

The most immediate impact is to federal workers. Congress’ failure to pass either a budget or a short-term funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, means many federal employees will be furloughed. Many more are deemed essential, and thus, will have to work without pay. That category includes military and federal law enforcement personnel, air traffic controllers, and most VA medical staff. Air travel should not be affected, although some air traffic controllers called in sick as a protest toward the end of the most recent shutdown, leading to delays. Some customer service functions could be impacted if the employees who provide those services are furloughed.

According to Congressional records, this is the 21st time the United States has faced a funding gap and the 11th in which the funding gap resulted in a partial government shutdown. The most recent shutdown, from late 2018 to early 2019, was also the longest, at 34 days. The Senate early Wednesday afternoon again failed to advance either a Democratic or a Republican-backed temporary spending plan, as neither plan got the 60 votes necessary to clear the chamber.

Speaking exclusively to News 8 moments after the vote, Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, said there had been some positive developments, but he expects the shutdown will last at least a couple of days.

During a procedural vote on Monday evening, Young and Sen. Jim Banks both voted in favor of a bill sponsored by fellow Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, that is intended to eliminate shutdowns. The measure would require appropriations to continue at the previous budget year’s level in the event Congress does not pass a budget. The bill did not pass.

“I don’t like these shutdowns,” Young said. “There is the argument that if you make it less painful to have a shutdown, you’re going to have more of them. Trying to balance those two was difficult for me but in the end, I listened to my constituents, who I think found this legislation appealing.”

Bryant said anyone facing food insecurity, including furloughed federal employees, should consult Community Compass or call 211.

Government shutdowns do not affect the U.S. Postal Service because its funding comes entirely from the sale of postal products and services.

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