As Congress remains deadlocked over a federal funding agreement, New Hampshire residents and agencies are bracing for the potential widespread impacts of a government shutdown. From delays in health care services and air travel disruptions to halted paychecks and stalled local projects, the consequences for New Hampshire could be major, especially if it lasts longer than 30 days, according to reporting from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR).
What happens during a government shutdown? The last one occurred in 2018, under Donald Trump’s first administration. They happen when Congress does not pass a new funding bill for that year, as agencies cannot spend money that has not been approved by lawmakers, according to an article by CBS.
When a government shutdown occurs, all federal agencies and services not deemed essential by officials will stop working. Essential services include Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security services, air-traffic control, the US Postal Service and veterans benefits.
All non-essential work must stop, however. This includes all federal employees, of which there are more than 5000 in New Hampshire who are preparing to work without pay, or getting furloughed or fired.
Health officials warn that administrative and grant-funded services could be affected. Community health centers, preventive programs and public health grants—many of which rely on discretionary federal funding—could face delays or cuts.
A protracted shutdown would be hard on those who are low-income and rely on the federal government for a lot of their basic needs.
Programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which help residents with winter heating costs, may also face interruptions. While state officials say New Hampshire has enough reserve funds to maintain operations through December, prolonged federal inaction could threaten the program.
Also, with food insecurity being at an all-time high in New Hampshire, and the state already making cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the summer, according to NHPR’s reporting, we rely heavily on federal funding in that regard. If the government shutdown lasts beyond a month, it is not clear if there is another plan.
Air travelers may experience delays and longer wait times. Although Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and air traffic controllers are classified as essential workers and would remain on the job, they would not be paid during the shutdown.
Past shutdowns have led to TSA staffing shortages and delays at airports nationwide. In this environment, it isn’t hard to imagine TSA agents quitting due to low morale and lack of paychecks, which leads to an eventual stalling of TSA services, which causes longer waits for those flying.
The state’s fall tourism season—typically a major economic driver—could be impacted by reduced services at national parks and forests. While public lands like the White Mountain National Forest are expected to remain physically open, visitors may find closed restrooms, shuttered visitor centers and reduced staffing. Past shutdowns have led to similar disruptions, according to an article by Seacoastonline.
Dexter Keegan can be contacted at
dkeegan@kscequinox.com
