Kylie Tutterrow
Congress was unable to reach a decision about federal funding on Tuesday, which caused the government shutdown.
The United States government has shut down as of Wednesday, which could affect federal workers and students in the Clemson area.
The government shutdown occurred after Democrats and Republicans in Congress reached a deadlock after debates on Tuesday surrounding federal funding. A major point of contention for legislators was subsidies on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” which ultimately led to the government shutting down, as reported by CNN.
Federal workers are directly affected during the shutdown, many facing furloughs or delayed pay. Students relying on federal aid programs or attending federally funded schools and universities face similar uncertainties as questions surrounding financing continue.
It is predicted that up to 4 million federal employees, alongside service members, “could go without a paycheck” during this shutdown, according to ABC News.
Funds provided through mandatory and carryover appropriations allow students who receive Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans to continue receiving federal student aid. However, students looking for a grant from the Department of Education will not be able to receive new federal grants, as any new grantmaking during the shutdown comes to a halt.
Oversight of extramural research contracts and grants provided by the Department of Health and Human Services will cease during the shutdown.
Agencies involving healthcare, such as Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, predict that over 32,000 of their nearly 80,000 workers will be furloughed during the shutdown.
Mandatory health program payments, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and programs like the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response will continue. The National Institutes of Health will continue “necessary” research, and the FDA will continue to review drugs and medical devices, but will accept new submissions.
The biggest impacts of the shutdown are predicted to fall on federal workers and active-duty military service members.
The White House has proposed permanently eliminating some federal worker positions instead of temporarily giving them unpaid leave, according to NPR.
This is a developing story. The Tiger will update this article with additional information as it becomes available.