US Shutdown Drags On, Hitting Low-Income Households Hard After Government Workers
With the US federal government shutdown continuing for over a month, the situation has deteriorated beyond reduced consumption due to suspended government employee salaries, now threatening the livelihoods of low-income households. In particular, beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are struggling to purchase groceries as they did not receive their scheduled November 1st benefits. President Trump is focusing on pressuring the opposition party rather than negotiating.
The prolonged shutdown has paralyzed US government functions, leading to the suspension of government employee salaries. This has led to a contraction in consumer sentiment, negatively affecting the overall economy. Government employees are facing a situation where they cannot secure even the minimum income to maintain their livelihoods due to the cessation of government agency operations.
The difficulties faced by low-income households, who are heavily dependent on government support, are even more severe. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has served as a crucial social safety net, ensuring food access for low-income individuals. SNAP plays an important role in maintaining the basic lives of economically vulnerable populations by supporting their purchase of groceries.
On November 1st, disruptions to the SNAP program occurred, preventing beneficiaries from receiving their scheduled benefits. This directly affects the food purchases of low-income individuals, making it difficult for them to maintain even a basic standard of living. The sudden cessation of support is plunging many low-income families into the threat of food insecurity.
President Trump is blaming the opposition party for the shutdown, and substantive negotiations to resolve the shutdown have not progressed. President Trump is also facing criticism for using the shutdown as a political tool to rally his base and pressure the opposition party.
As the shutdown continues, uncertainty about the US economy is growing. There are concerns that this could lead to a contraction in investment sentiment and a slowdown in economic growth. There are also analyses suggesting that this could negatively affect the credibility of US foreign policy.
The US shutdown, which has lasted for over a month, is amplifying economic uncertainty. Concerns about the political situation in the United States are spreading throughout the international community. Experts are warning of the broad negative impacts that the prolonged shutdown could have on the US economy.
The suspension of government activities also raises the possibility of reduced investment in research and development. This could weaken US technological competitiveness in the long term. Cases are occurring where government science and technology-related projects are being suspended or delayed due to the shutdown.
The US government shutdown is ongoing, and the international community is focused on the situation. Currently, the prospects for a swift resolution are unclear. It is difficult to predict when the shutdown will end, which is amplifying anxiety in the US economy and the international community.
Some experts are analyzing the impact of the prolonged shutdown on the US economy, pointing out that in addition to reduced consumer sentiment and investment, it could disrupt the implementation of government economic policies. In particular, there are concerns that the delay in the release of government economic statistics due to the shutdown could further increase market uncertainty.
The shutdown is also disrupting the provision of public services in the United States. The operation of public facilities such as national parks and museums has been suspended, adding to the inconvenience of citizens. In addition, administrative services such as visa issuance and passport renewal are also being delayed due to the paralysis of government agency operations.
Meanwhile, the political conflict within the United States is intensifying as the shutdown continues. The Democratic Party is refusing to negotiate on the budget bill in response to President Trump's hard-line stance, and voices calling for a resolution to the shutdown are also emerging within the Republican Party. The intensified confrontation in the political arena is making it difficult to resolve the shutdown.
