The Government Shutdown lasted from the 22nd of December, 2018 to the 25th of January 2019. A government shutdown is when the government has to shut down due to not being able to pay government programs.

President Trump has shut down the government because he wanted 5 billion dollars for the border wall. This has affected many people especially government workers working without pay, and government workers being sent home without pay. Many government workers had to get loans from the bank or family just to keep their homes.

People around the U.S gathered many times to protest during the 35-day shutdown. A protest was held in Detroit with 100 federal employees including people from the TSA, FDA, and EPA to reopen the government. “I was very disappointed because the government shutdown just because the president didn’t get his way,” says Sufwan Abdulmagid a cop in Browns town.

      Congress agreed to fund the partial amount of money for the border wall but Donald Trump refused and shut down the government. “I think the government shutdown was unfair to government employees even with back pay, many government employees live paycheck. ”, an IRS employee expressed.

During the government shutdown, many government employees didn’t get paid some were sent home however others still had to work. The IRS employee stated, “Other than the stress that goes along with not knowing when the government would reopen, I wasn’t affected by the government shutdown too badly.”

800,000 government employees were not paid for 35 days. 380,000 of which have been furloughed. Michelle Daniels a Middle School E.L.A teacher mentioned, “Teachers weren’t affected financially by the government shutdown however school programs like free breakfast and lunch could have been affected by the shutdown if it went on any longer.

Through all the tough times during the government shutdown, there were various organizations that helped federal workers through it. USAA, PenFed, BBVA Compass, Navy Federal, FedChoice, and Wells Fargo all have assistance programs.

“Fortunately I did not need any assistance from any programs during the shutdown. However, a number of restaurants provided free lunch to government employees, gas stations provided discounted or free gas to government employees, and a number of food banks provided food assistance.”, the IRS employee stated.

By: Adam Abduljabbar