10 things that could ruin your day if the government shuts down
That family trip to the Grand Canyon could be in jeopardy if Congress and the White House fail to reach a budget agreement.
April 7th, 2011
07:48 PM ET

10 things that could ruin your day if the government shuts down

The list of collateral effects of a potential government shutdown keeps growing and people are none too pleased about it. Here are just a few of the negative impacts that could arise if Congress and the White House fail to reach an agreement on the budget (click here to view in chart form):

  • The lawmakers who hold the cards will still get paid. Their staffers might be furloughed, though. That has prompted a few lawmakers to announce they'll refuse shutdown pay,but even that has elicited critiques of political posturing.
  • Roughly 800,000 federal workers won't get paid because they're considered nonessential and therefore, the first to be furloughed. That includes people who work in national parks because they'll be closed, ruining countless long family road trips. And it's not just the loss of income that hurts - for many, it's being labeled dispensable when they know their jobs are anything but nonessential.

  • As the shutdown looms, some political leaders are taking the opportunity to fundraise and rally their supporters. The executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent out an appeal asking for a minimum $5 donation saying the organization wants to raise $100,000 in the next 36 hours.
  • You'll still get your Social Security checks but don't expect anyone to be around to answer your questions about benefits. The people who take questions on Social Security and Medicare questions will not be at work and most government websites will shut down or have limited functionality.
  • Various agencies with the Department of Health and Human Services will operate in a patchwork fashion. The National Institutes of Health will not accept new patients or start new clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration won't operate at full capacity but will have some inspectors on staff. As a result, all FDA inspections of food processing facilities and drug manufacturing plants will be prioritized by risk.
  • Word is getting around that a government shutdown doesn't actually save taxpayers money. For one, it will cost the government money to ensure a smooth transition to a shutdown. Then there's the lost revenue from a variety of sources, from government services to gift shops in government-run attractions such as Yosemite National Park and DC's National Gallery of Art.

How would a government shutdown anger you?

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Filed under: Budget
soundoff (2,555 Responses)
  1. Ronald Howard

    Congress are snakes. Soldiers are not going to get paid for defending our country and people who are employed by the goverment are getting cut too. Some of those people love doing there jobs or some work those jobs didn't have a choice because it was all that they could find at the time. All while congress sits on capital hill still getting paid even though most of them are millionaires. My fellow Americans..... But we are getting screwed.

    April 8, 2011 at 12:52 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Nancy Pelosi

    Hey guys,

    If you are looking for someone to blame, blame me! I was in charge LAST SEPTEMBER when the budget was due, and I couldn't get my Democrat-ran congress in shape! If you have any concerns about my leadership, please feel free to e-mail me at AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov. I promise to read every e-mail.

    -Nancy Pelosi

    April 8, 2011 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
  3. american liberation front

    time to overthrow the current american government

    April 8, 2011 at 12:55 pm | Report abuse |
  4. natural selection

    Prepare for the return of Darwinism

    April 8, 2011 at 12:56 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Anonymous Person

    Let's think about all of the people who will be affected by the shutdown, it starts with big government contractors all the way down the military family members. My biggest concern is for the military families, they won't have the money that they need to survive. The question that would arise is which bill should I pay or should I buy food for my family so they won't go hungry. I haven't heard anything about congress losing their paychecks or what senators? This whole talk about a government shutdown is going to cause the American people to resort to fend for themselves and families. That means the crime rate is going to rise. You can already see it happening today. What is this country going to do when we become a third world nation like Haiti? It will be to late for the government to do anything. This is where we need the character like Robin Hood to take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

    April 8, 2011 at 12:57 pm | Report abuse |
  6. HUMPMAN

    Bet if we cut congress pay to $0 they will come to a resolution real damn quick

    April 8, 2011 at 12:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • MostlyAmused

      Since Congress votes on their own pay (seriously wrong), that is NOT going to happen.

      April 8, 2011 at 2:53 pm | Report abuse |
  7. mejazzbo

    It appears democracy doesn't work. Congress is it's own special interest group. Maybe it is time to bring the soldiers home to defend the citizens of the US against congress.

    April 8, 2011 at 12:59 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Randy

    If the government shuts down, impeach Obama, and layoff (fire) all those involved. Let the american people vote on the issue and WE will decide the budget. We voted these idots into office, we should be able to remove them and vote on the budget

    April 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  9. josie

    i am canadian i can not believe what is going on.... federal shutdown.troops millitary familiies not getting paid...women... being pushed aside... thrown under the bus as u say. since when. this makes a woman become a sencond class citizen what is the difference between..us and the middle east where woman are second class citizien.. is is not a mother who gave mother to men to in general.. and the suffering of the military troops fighting for their country and their family will have to starve..but u dare invest money in weapons... for many countries to make war. and innocent people have to suffer. for me the U.S. has been a nest of safeness... if they are able to shut down.. the federal governement what will happen to the rest... u are the land of the free.. a powerful country..the thought sickens me and makes me feel in this world we are no longer safe. what will happen next.. and their IN GOD WE TRUST.....THEY DO NOT TRUST IN GOD.THESE CONGRESSMAN POCKET THEIR MONEY.. AND HUMANITY DOESNT MATTER.. UR SECRET SOCIETIES HAVE RUINED THE WORLD.... AND I BELIEVE IN GOD..... IT IS YOU WHO WILL PAY IN THE END U DO NOT TRUST IN GOD... U CARE ABOUT MONEY.. WEAPONS BUT NOT THE PERSON WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A GLASS OF MILK..I AM REPULSED AND DISGUSTED BUT MY FAITH.. IS THERE THOSE WHO HAVE DONE THIS TO THE AMERICAN POPULATION WILL PAY IN THE END... IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD......BUT REMEMBER.....I CAN NOT EVEN .. BELIEVE TO EXPLAIN......... HOW I FEEL.. I BELIEVED IN THE U.S. I NO LONGER U CARE ABOUT FINANCING WEAPONS AND THINGS WE DO NOT NEED WHICH WE DO NOT NEED...... HOW DO U LIVE WITH URSELF HOW DO U LOOK AT URSELF IN THE MIRROR..and go on living.. while people suffer........... YOU HAVE NO COMPASSION FOR HUMANITY....AND FOR THAT....... DEAL WITH IT .. WHEN UR TIME COMES

    April 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Mason

    Don't you people get it? The amount of debt we have is an embarrasment. This shutdown is a result of two opposing sides: those who believe that we can continue to spend on credit as long as we keep our eyes and ears shut everything will be okay and those who realise this unaccountable cycle cannot continue.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:01 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Elctronyc

    These guys from the goverment act like little kids. if I dont get my candy, im going to cry = if we dont pass these laws we shutdown. Everyone wants to get their share at any cost. Goverment should be ashame of theirselves. I think Our funding fathers are crying wherever they are.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:01 pm | Report abuse |
  12. josie

    REPULSED ................. in god we trust............. secret societies.............. policiticans are liars...... have no conscious for humanity.... people have to fight for u for free and their familiies starve while u prepare for ur own... saving...........GOD WILL NOT SAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU............and the women remember who gave birth to you....... in the end it is between u AND GOD........look at urself in the mirror do u like what u seeeeeee?

    April 8, 2011 at 1:03 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Jen

    Give each Age 18+ American a million dollars and watch how quickly the economy picks up. Instead dispensing it towards thier own choosing of programs... what are we as americans famous for...spending. We would be putting it back to the market, think how much more effective and Home buying market will pick up! Just a thought....before this Debt cieling scenerio, maybe this idea should have been given more thought!! PLausable, Justifyable, and reasonable. We also need to stop outsourcing our funds/troops to other countries that cost alot of money!! I support our troops, but I no longer support the war or our efforts in Lybia or Irag, or Afghanistan. We need to take care of our own. Cost of living goes up, gas goes up, more jobs lost = More homeless, starving, people and families!! No good in my eyes and very sad to think about!!!

    Thanks!!

    April 8, 2011 at 1:03 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Ed Keller

    It would, or at least should, finally prove to the American public that their representatives do not really care about them and/or are completely inept in their jobs. It is a deplorable exercise in self-indulgence that will only hurt the people that they were sent to Washington DC to help.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:04 pm | Report abuse |
  15. RealTime

    That's the only impact? Extend the shutdown, since there is ZERO impact on the average taxpayer.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:05 pm | Report abuse |
    • MostlyAmused

      That is just a list for the average mouth-breather. In real terms, it could mean that the mechanics who service the jets our AF use will not work. It could also mean less border patrol personnel, fewer food inspections (e-coli, anyone?), and a lot of other short-shifts that WILL impact you sooner or later.

      April 8, 2011 at 2:57 pm | Report abuse |
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