The Government Has Shut Down. How Will This Impact You?

The U.S. government officially shut down on October 1, 2025, and unfortunately, it’s not just a D.C. drama. It’s going to hit regular people — people like you and me — in all kinds of ways, big and small. Here’s a breakdown of what’s about to get harder, slower, or more expensive in your day-to-day life.

1. Going to a National Park? It’s Complicated.

Planning a family trip to Yosemite, Yellowstone, or the Grand Canyon? Technically, many parks will stay open — but don’t expect working bathrooms, open visitor centers, or park rangers to help if something goes wrong. Trash pickup? Gone. Safety patrols? Minimal.

In previous shutdowns, overflowing trash bins, closed campgrounds, and even damage to fragile ecosystems became real issues. This time may be no different — and the local towns that rely on park tourism will take an economic hit too.

2. Flying? Brace for Delays.

If you’re flying this week, say a quiet thank you to air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers — they’re still on the job, but without pay.

The Federal Aviation Administration is furloughing more than 11,000 employees, and controller training is halted, which could impact future flight capacity. For now, expect longer lines, stressed-out workers, and more flight delays. There’s also genuine concern about safety oversight if this drags on.

3. Need Help with Rent or Food? It’s Uncertain.

If you rely on Section 8 housing assistance, WIC, or SNAP (food stamps), the picture is worrying. SNAP may continue for a bit longer with emergency funds, but if the shutdown persists for weeks, delays are likely. WIC is in trouble — it's not permanently funded and could run out of money fast. Housing agencies are struggling to process rent payments or maintain their buildings because their staff are also furloughed.

4. If You’re a Federal Worker - Or Know One - It’s Personal.

About 750,000 federal employees are being furloughed or forced to work without pay. This includes not only people in D.C. but also individuals working across the country in various roles, such as disaster response, veterans’ services, science research, food inspections, and more.

Contractors — including janitors, cafeteria workers, and IT support — may not receive payment at all. And this time, the Trump administration has threatened to make some furloughs permanent.

This Isn't the First Time

We’ve been here before. The 2018-2019 shutdown (also under President Trump) lasted 35 days  — the longest in U.S. history. During that time:

• Federal workers stood in line at food banks.

• Air travel nearly ground to a halt.

• Scientific research was interrupted.

• National parks suffered vandalism and neglect.

• Government loan processing has been frozen for small businesses and homebuyers.

The economy suffered an $11 billion loss, much of which it never recovered.

If this shutdown only lasts a few days, many of the impacts will be annoying  — longer lines, missed paychecks, and slower services. However, if it drags on for weeks or longer, the effects could ripple through public health, food safety, housing, and transportation systems, hurting the very people who rely most on government stability.

(But WHY did the government shut down? Republicans, who control the House, were unable to come up with a full budget due to infighting and failure to address several necessary bills. So they passed a Continuing Resolution to continue current spending levels. However, several initiatives, such as the subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, are scheduled to expire unless action is taken. In the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass the bill, Democrats requested protection of ACA subsidies, Medicaid, and a reversal of cuts to key agencies like the NIH and CDC in exchange for their votes. But President Trump and the Republicans refused to negotiate, betting that they had the media power to lay the blame for the shutdown on the Democrats.)