Millions of Americans are breathing a temporary sigh of relief after Congress reopened the government following the longest shutdown in US history, which lasted 43 days. But relief may be short-lived, as the funding deal expires at the end of January, raising fears of another shutdown.
Beth Johnson, a military wife from Tennessee, described the shutdown as “crippling,” especially for families who rely on federal paychecks. With her husband serving in the military, the Johnson family depends on a single income, making financial uncertainty particularly stressful. During the last shutdown, active-duty personnel had to serve without guaranteed pay, leaving families like the Johnsons to make tough choices, including limiting holiday spending.
“It really affects every part of your life when your family’s sole source of income comes from the federal government,” Ms. Johnson said. “We’re just going to go through this again probably in January.”
The recent two-month funding agreement ensures federal workers are paid for any shutdown days and keeps programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) running until September. Sierra Bird, a Florida mother of four who relies on Snap benefits, said the program’s delay during the shutdown forced her to make difficult adjustments but that funds would be restored soon. Despite this, she worries about healthcare subsidies, which were excluded from the latest spending plan.
“I would rather have affordable healthcare than Snap,” Ms. Bird said. “I can feed them rice and beans, but I need my medications.”
For the more than 1.4 million federal employees affected, uncertainty remains a major concern. Sarah, a Utah-based Interior Department archaeologist, said she was relieved to return to work but is already preparing for another shutdown in January by cutting back on spending.
As the nation braces for the possibility of renewed government closures, many families are taking proactive steps to safeguard their finances, knowing that another shutdown could hit hard and fast.
