You're going to feel the effects of a government shutdown
(CNN)The
clock's ticking. If Congress doesn't pass a spending bill by the end of
this week, the federal government will run out of money and shut down.
Shutdowns
don't come cheap. The last time the government was forced to close up
shop -- for 16 days in late 2013 -- it cost taxpayers $2 billion in lost
productivity, according to the Office of Management and Budget. Two
earlier ones -- in late 1995 and early 1996 -- cost the country $1.4
billion.
But what will the shutdown mean for you? Will your daily life be affected?
(The answer's yes, so keep reading.)
Here are 7 ways the government shutdown will affect you.
1. Vacation, all I ever wanted: Need to get away? Well, you can't. At
least not to national parks. Or to national zoos. Or to national
museums. They'll be shuttered. That's more than 300 National Park
Service sites closed, millions of visitors turned away.
Shutdown deadline nears, border wall looms 02:45
Were
you thinking more along the lines of a trip to France? If you don't
already have a passport, you might have to bid that adieu -- you might
not get your blue book in time. When the government threw a hissy fit in
1995, more than 200,000 applications for passports went unprocessed.
But
according to the State Department, offices will remain open because
they generate enough in fees to support their operation. Any offices
located in a federal building affected by the shutdown, however, may not
be able to open.
2. Holiday. Celebrate:
Don't go to work if you're a federal employee. You're on furlough.
(Offer not valid for workers in "critical services," such as air traffic
controllers, hazardous waste handlers and food inspectors.) During the
2013 shutdown, about 800,000 federal employees were furloughed.
Do
take some time to celebrate. In previous shutdowns, everyone who stayed
home was paid retroactively after peace returned to Washington.
3. I won't back down: The men and women in uniform will stay on the job. So, that's one sliver of good news.
4. If you drive a car, I'll tax the street:
You may be thinking, "No functioning government, no need to pay taxes."
Think again. The Man would continue to collect taxes. US bonds would
still be issued. And other essential banking functions will go on.
5. Wait a minute, Mr. Postman:
You know that whole "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of
night" thing? Apparently, the US Postal Service works through shutdowns
as well. Sorry, you won't catch a break from the junk mail.
6. Pass the ammunition:
Not so fast. A shutdown would affect the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives. Translation: That gun permit you wanted to get
processed may not happen anytime soon if this goes on for a while.
7. Money (that's what I want):
Well, if you own a small business and needed a loan from the
government, you'll have to wait, depending on how long this lasts. If
you were planning to buy a house and needed a federal loan, you'll have
to wait. If you're a veteran, you might have to make a few trips to the
mailbox before that check arrives.
If you're on Social Security, however, don't worry. Social Security payments were sent during the last shutdown.
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