Government Shutdown Delays Federal Job Background Checks, Impacting 100,000 Monthly Applicants

The ongoing government shutdown is severely impacting the U.S. economy and workforce, leading to the suspension of critical services and data releases. Key government economic data, such as the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, will likely not be published, forcing investors and economists to rely on less comprehensive private sector data, which complicates economic decision-making. Federal background checks, essential for employment verification in sectors including healthcare, education, and transportation, are also delayed, creating significant backlogs and hindering new hires across multiple industries. These delays extend to critical safety and operational functions, such as the FAA pilot database, potentially disrupting air travel. Labor Department services, including wage investigations and worker training programs, have been put on hold, impacting law enforcement, wildland firefighters, miners, and small businesses that rely on federal support. The shutdown is attributed to political gridlock, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers blaming each other, while the broader consequences continue to affect American workers and economic stability.