When the US government shut down last Tuesday following the debate over the Affordable Healthcare Act, the American people groaned. Some implications of the shutdown are obvious, but the effects extend to countless facets of government and societal functions. While the Congress and the Senate vacation, air waves go unregulated and the tourism industry loses millions.
- The USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services is only partially closed. Food stamp programs will continue for a month. However, the federal government has stopped funding WIC, which is a program for pregnant women and children. This program affects 9 million people per month.
- The CDC will halt its flu program just as flu season gets underway. It's not just the flu though, the CDC also stopped supporting state and local partners for infectious disease surveillance.
- The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is closed and not able to function. Only three of the 40 employees are expected to work. This basically means no federal employees will investigate industrial chemical spills or acciedents that happen during the shutdown. Any current investigations are frozen.
- Civilian Military Workers - the Department of Defense - is partially closed. Half of civilian workers from the military may be furloughed. The other half are being paid retroactively.
- Although it's claimed that recall of defective products and product inspection is continuing under the Consumer Product Safety Commission, only 22 of 540 will be working.
- The Department of Homeland Security is partially closed.
- Natural parks and wildlife refuge systems are closed to the public. This includes Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. During the last shutdown in 1995-96, 7 million visitors were turned away from national parks.
- The Department of Justice is partially closed.
- The Department of Transportation is partially closed, but, don't worry, the FAA is still open so airports are still operating.
- The Federal Communication Commission, which is in charge of regulating all of the broadcast in the U.S., is closed. Wardrobe malfunctions and swearing can slide during the shutdown.
- The IRS is partially closed. Shoot.
- The Peace Corps couldn't attend the career fair because all domestic offices are shut down, including recruiting offices.
- So much for D.C. tourism - the Smithsonian and all national monuments are closed down. Other national tourism sites will take a hit as well. The Statue of Liberty and Alcatraz are closed. During the 1995-96 shutdown, tourist industries and airlines lost millions every day.
- The US Court systems will continue to run for ten days on available funds.
- NASA is closed.
- Millions of veterans may not receive benefits if the shutdown last more than two weeks.
- As long as the government is shut down, the National Institue of Health will turn down roughly 200 patients for week from its clinical research center.
