Shutdown Strains Workers, Nonprofits and Local Services

The federal government shutdown is already straining workers, nonprofits, small businesses and communities nationwide as unpaid federal paychecks reduce consumer spending and boost demand for emergency services. Nonprofits and food banks from San Diego (where the San Diego Food Bank serves about 400,000 people monthly) to Nevada and Louisville expect surges in need, with Nevada groups like The Just One Project and The Salvation Army organizing food drives and Wesley House Community Services warning that Head Start childcare for 69 families, staff pay and local services could be jeopardized. State leaders warn health care for nearly 100,000 Kentuckians could be at risk, and active-duty military families as well as many federal workers face immediate hardship. Long Island and Lowcountry federal employees fear unpaid bills, furloughs and job cuts, and officials say nearly 25,000 Lowcountry federal workers and roughly 150,000 in California could be affected, prompting concerns about furloughs at national parks and calls like Friends of Joshua Tree to lock gates to avoid trash and vandalism. Mandatory programs such as Social Security and Medicare continue, but officials warn SNAP, WIC and other services could run short if the shutdown lasts several weeks and state reserves may be exhausted over time. Courts and some judiciary operations remain open for now, but officials across states say prolonged funding gaps could lead to furloughs, service disruptions and lasting local impacts.