Michigan Government Shutdown Threatens Thousands of Workers, State Services

Michigan faces a looming government shutdown if lawmakers fail to agree on a budget by October 1, threatening to suspend numerous state services and temporarily lay off thousands of state employees. Essential services like state police and prisons would continue, but road projects, state parks, Secretary of State offices, and school funding, including free meal programs, could be disrupted or halted. The United Auto Workers Local 6000 emphasized that a shutdown would delay critical public services such as unemployment claims processing, SNAP and Medicaid benefits, and public safety functions, affecting vulnerable populations. Public schools have already begun the academic year without confirmed state funding, raising concerns over payroll continuity. Uncertainty also surrounds whether state employees would receive backpay or be required to work without pay during a shutdown. Meanwhile, at the federal level, a government shutdown threat persists due to Senate opposition to a short-term funding bill, exacerbating tensions and risking disruptions to federal workers and services.