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. Ancient Marinator

    Yeah, but James, you live in a remote barn in Idaho and wear a tinfoil hat when you go outside. The rest of us have lives to lead, and we don't want the govt to crash and burn.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Airman First Class

    How should we soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines accept this? I enjoy defending my country. But, I can't defend it if all of my things get repossessed, from not getting paid. I have civilian bills!!!

    April 8, 2011 at 4:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • HM FMF

      Check with your bank. I am in the Navy and bank with Navy Federal. They have guaranteed its memebers full paychecks on the 15. Once the budget is approved and you get backpayed Navy Federal will just deduct that.

      April 8, 2011 at 5:15 pm | Report abuse |
  3. hokie boboscotts biscuits

    hey everybody!
    woohoo! look at my post! i made it! look at this post!
    awesome!
    yeeehaaa!

    April 8, 2011 at 4:52 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Shane Botwin

    James, you cared enough to post an inane opinion on a website. Is that caring more, or less? And btw, our troops are not parasites, thank you.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:52 pm | Report abuse |
  5. HMFMF

    I am in the Navy and bank with Navy Federal Credit Union. NFCU will pay military members their full check on the 15th eventhough our LES states otherwise. Once the budget is approved and we our backpayed they will just deduct this from our account.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:53 pm | Report abuse |
  6. No play...no pay

    Does this mean I have to pay less taxes? I mean if theres no government working for me, I shouldn't have to pay for it!

    April 8, 2011 at 4:54 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Laura

    Yes, screw the US patent office which, although mostly self-sustaining, does get a little gov't funding so that they can grant you a patent on your invention so that you can protect it from being stolen from others. Everybody who gets a patent is a parasite too.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Dsn63

    If the National Parks close then there won't be any tourists.Where will we get our Twinkes and Doritos? Signed The Bears.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Lindsey

    I hate that people think they have the right to decide who's more valuable than others. Regardless, I think we're all screwed. I don't see this getting any better. Please, tell me if there's a possibility that we'll once again be on stable ground as an independent and prosperous country. I'm not saying America is bad, but we're not the best we could be.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Report abuse |
  10. furonfire

    I'd at least pay the soldiers since they have the weapons.

    April 8, 2011 at 4:58 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Kimberly

    FOR EVERYONE THAT IS SAYING THAT THEY DONT NEED THE MILITARY TO PROTECT THEM AND ARE WRITTING IGNORANT STUFF ABOUT THEM JUST REMEMBER WHILE SOME MEN AND WOMEN ARE OVER SEES RISKING THEIR LIVES FOR YOU AND YOU WANT TO WRITE THOSE THINGS? YOU ALL REALLY NEED HELP, MY BROTHER IS CURRENTLY IN AFGAN. AND I SUPPORT EVERY SOLDIER MEN AND WOMEN THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

    April 8, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Report abuse |
  12. a guy

    This is the worst Congress since 1947, they were called the "Do Nothing Congress". The 80th Congress was a Republican take over of Congress that did nothing except pass pro-business legislation. This Congress can't really pass anything. Does anybody have a good name for this Congress? Do Nothing Congress seems like it'd be a compliment.

    April 8, 2011 at 5:10 pm | Report abuse |
  13. WOT

    I lived the American dread, why did I wake up screaming from the nightmare of it all!

    April 8, 2011 at 5:11 pm | Report abuse |
  14. sandygirl

    First, I gotta ask, cos I don't understand: if it costs more to transition to a shutdown then we save by actually shutting down, why shutdown? I mean, if we don't have enough money to run the government, how do we come up with the money to stop running the government? Second, I'd love to feel sorry for all those people who'll miss out on those planned vacations to national parks and museums which now lay in ruins, but as someone who no longer has an income that affords a luxury like taking a vacation, I just can't. Sorry.

    April 8, 2011 at 5:12 pm | Report abuse |
  15. jeffrey schultz

    if every goverment workers pay gets with held it should include the president on down to all the senitors and there aids. They screwed us up and they should pay also.

    April 8, 2011 at 5:16 pm | Report abuse |
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