Crores of people are affected by the government shutdown that has been going on for a month in America. The political impasse is putting 42 million people’s food assistance (SNAP) and 20 million’s health insurance at risk. Other essential services like air travel are also being disrupted.
AIt has been a month since the government shutdown in America and millions of citizens are worried about the stoppage of government assistance for food and drink. Although President Trump has assured that no one will have to go hungry, technical problems are creating problems. Trump clearly said that he does not want anyone to go hungry and has asked officials to find legal ways to continue funding. The Monthly Food Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides approximately 42 million people, was scheduled to end on November 1 due to the halt in government funding. But a federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the use of emergency funds to continue funding.
Legal complications and people’s concerns. But, the Trump administration says that this emergency fund cannot be used legally. Due to this, people receiving SNAP benefits are very upset. This shutdown, which started on October 1, is now going into its second month. Federal employees are troubled without salaries and millions of Americans are in trouble due to stoppage of basic services. All this is the result of mutual fighting between the parties. Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other, while according to reports, the full impact of the shutdown will begin to be felt on common people from this week.
Health insurance and air travel are also in trouble
Health Insurance: The subsidy that ensures health insurance for more than 2 crore people is ending, which is a big crisis. Without the subsidy, premiums for new insurance policy takers will see a sudden increase from November 1.
Other assistance: Food assistance for pregnant women, mothers and children, and programs like Head Start, which provide nutrition and other assistance to children, are also on the verge of closing.
Air services: The shutdown has also started affecting air travel due to shortage of staff in airport control towers.
What is shutdown?
When the US Congress is unable to approve government spending for the next fiscal year within the stipulated time, a shutdown occurs. The legal permission for the US government to spend money ended on October 1. By this time, Democrats and Republicans had to agree on the next fiscal year’s budget or a temporary funding bill. This crisis has arisen because of this not happening.