The Government Shutdown - what it means

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Due to a debate on funding, parts of the United States of America government has shut down. The two parties, Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a budget dispute, thus making the government shut down. This means that some government employees will not be paid until the government goes back into commission.

Who does this shutdown affect?

This will affect many many government jobs. Most notably, a lot of national parks will be closed, some healthcare professionals might not be paid, and many ATC (air traffic control) towers will be closed. This means that a lot of flights will not have a tower telling them if they are clear to land, where other planes are, and some general stuff to land. Still, pilots are highly experienced, and can still communicate with each other and tell other pilots where they are over the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency). A lot of flights will still take off, and a lot will be canceled, but be aware there is higher risk than usual. (Information from https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/g-s1-90732/government-shut-down)

Jobs and workers affected by the shutdown

According to (https://www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/), in Colorado, about 900 workers have been laid off their jobs already, Around 1.9% of Colorado’s workforce (55,000 people are working without pay, and there has been loan delays totaling around $92 million in distributions among much more. The loan delays are severely crippling small businesses, as they usually rely on loans to finance their business. 

Programs and other things affected by the shutdown

You will still get your mail, as the mail services usually are self funded, and continue shipping and delivering even through the shutdown. Since the WIC program is funded by the government, the federal funding for the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program will stop, and will rely on emergency funds. These funds are very limited. Since the government shutdown is prolonged due to another disagreement on funding,

those funds are likely to run out very quickly, maybe even before the first week. In Colorado, there are around 93,000 WIC recipients, many of whom rely on the program for support for themselves and their loved ones. The SNAP program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is also federally funded, SNAP benefits will only last around 30 days before problems will occur. In Colorado, there are around 615,000 total enrollees in SNAP, and around 239,000  are children. (From https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CO-Shutdown-One-Pager.pdf) 

Elderly affected by the shutdown

For those who receive their Social Security money through check, there will almost certainly be a delay in receiving those. Around 6,000 seniors receive their Social Security benefits by check in Colorado. (From https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CO-Shutdown-One-Pager.pdf)

In conclusion, even though this government shutdown might not affect you, be aware that some people might still be working these government jobs, even though many of them are working for free, or volunteering. Please try to help wherever you can throughout this time where many people are struggling or in crisis.

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Sources -

“Council of Economic Advisers 1.” Economic Impacts of the Government Shutdown in Colorado, White House, www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Michigan-Shutdown-One-Pager.pdf. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

“Government Shutdown Clock.” The White House, The United States Government, 20 Oct. 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/.

Network, The NPR, and Caitlyn Kim. “Here’s What Is Being Affected by the Government Shutdown across the Country.” NPR, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025, www.npr.org/2025/09/30/g-s1-90732/government-shut-down.