Dec. 22 marked the beginning of what has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
As a whole, the partial government shutdown lasted 35 days, affecting 800,000 federal workers as well as thousands of federal contractors, according to The Huffington Post.
For many Oswego State students, the question of how this shutdown could affect them was a popular topic of discussion, with many turning to the financial aid office to ensure their financial aid would not be affected. According to Mark Humbert, due to the time frame of the shutdown, students will not see a negative impact.
“Fortunately for students, the government shutdown did not have any negative impact on the processing of federal student aid,” Humbert said. “That part of the government was not affected by the shutdown, as that funding had already been approved for the year.”
It was the other repercussions, such as those that affected departments who dealt with health and education issues, that infuriated others, as well as what the possible longevity of the shutdown and what lasting effects could arise from it.
“I was more upset than worried about numerous things caused by the extent of the shutdown, museums, national parks, FDA regulations,” Oswego State student Julia Polly said. “When the shutdown started jeopardizing education and children’s health, they crossed a line.”
The government reopened on Jan. 25 after President Trump signed a resolution to provide funding until Feb. 15. The House of Representatives and the Senate approved the resolution as a temporary solution after Trump’s month-long standoff failed to procure the necessary funding for his proposed border wall on the southwestern border between the U.S. and Mexico.
During the government shutdown, many federal offices were closed, including portions of the Food and Drug Administration, which works to protect the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics and products that emit radiation, according to the FDA website.
During the shutdown, hundreds of FDA inspectors were furloughed, which dramatically reduced inspections of the nation’s food supply. The FDA, 80 percent of which oversees food supply, suspended all routine inspections of domestic food processing, according to The Washington Post.
FDA inspectors and other staff returned to work Jan. 15 after public outcry to focus on facilities that produce higher-risk goods, drugs and devices, according to the agency’s commissioner.
The government shutdown left many citizens angry at the administration for a number of reasons, but others were just confused as to what it meant.
“Nowadays, when it comes to things involving the government, I’m aware but not too involved with everything that is going on,” Oswego State student Allison Feely said. “I guess that’s just my mentality since I am not a very political person.”
The government will remain open for three weeks while negotiations on how to secure the nation’s southwestern border continue. The resolution provided funding for normal operations until Feb. 15, according to The New York Times.
Graphic by:
Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian
