MAJOR UPDATE!
As of Fri. Jan. 25th, 2019, President Trump announced that the government would reopen for 21 more days in order to discuss a “resolution deal” for the border wall. If no deal is reached as of Fri. Feb. 15th, 2019, the government could potentially shut down once more.
This continuing resolution follows after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history — the shutdown lasting a consecutive 35 days, or 5 weeks total.
Although the government may have “reopened” for the next few weeks or so, what about the lingering effects of the previous record shutdown? Should the government shut down once more, here’s how everyone would be impacted:
– Tens of thousands of employees could be working without pay in law enforcement departments, including the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and the Secret Service
– Air pilots unions have already warned that air traffic controllers working without pay could be detrimental, according to the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA)
– Rental assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development can’t go out if the government were to shut down, which could risk thousands of evictions
– IF the shutdown lasts beyond Feb. 2019, approximately 40 MILLION people will no longer be able to receive their EBT/SNAP food stamp benefits;
– Also including other aid programs geared toward child nutrition — including school lunch and breakfast programs
– Funding for many Native American tribes could be cut off, including for the Indian Health Service… Affecting health clinics, food pantries, and road maintenance on Native American reserves
– U.S. Forest Service will be unable to prepare for the upcoming fire season
– Many national parks will once again closed — meaning trash can overflow
– National monuments such as the Gateway Arch and National Zoo will close once more
– Immigration courts will be closed again
– E-Verify services will be unavailable, along with some government websites that will no longer update
– Mortgage deals could be in limbo, affecting the real estate market
– While tax returns will still be issued, they could be DELAYED!
– While social security, medicaid, and other identical benefits are currently not affected by the shutdown, all of this can CHANGE!
Is it a surprise or a coincidence how all of this is occurring as of Jan. 2019 — the same time wherein U.S. federal agencies quietly prepare for the change in the Continuity of Government Condition (COGCON) level during the annual State of the Union Address? Interestingly enough, this year’s SOTU Address could be postponed.
Not only that, but all of this is occurring exactly a month after the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) issued a report concerning a nationwide power outage lasting up to six months, and affecting up to 75 MILLION people, or nearly a quarter of the U.S. population.
Again, the question still remains:
What Are They REALLY Getting Ready For?!?!