The partial government shutdown in the United States has reached its 10th day, with Republicans and Democrats again failing to reach an agreement on a budget to restore full funding.
The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has left many people in limbo at the national and statewide levels, especially as the Oct. 10 payday hits for federal employees.
There has also been confusion about what prompted the shutdown, which agencies are impacted and how else we might feel the effects in South Jersey.
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When did the government shutdown start?
The government shut down began Oct. 1.
How long is the government shut down?
On Oct. 10, the shutdown is entering its 10th day.
Does the government shutdown impact New Jersey
According to data from SmartAsset, an online platform that connects consumers with financial advisers, an estimated 14,854 federal employees are expected to be furloughed in New Jersey.
This number makes up about 0.16% of the population, SmartAsset reports.
What does furlough mean?
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management defines a furlough as the “placing of an employee in a temporary nonduty, nonpay status because of lack of work or funds, or other nondsiciplinary reasons.”
Shutdown furloughs occurr when funds aren’t available through appropriations or budget resolution disputes.
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Are banks open during the shut down?
Yes, FDIC-insured banks should remain open and fully operational during a government shutdown, according to Citizen Bank’s government shutdown resource website.
FDIC-insured banks include Bank of America, PNC, TD Bank, Citibank, Capital One and more.
Can I get food stamps during a government shut down?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sept. 30 Lapse of Funding Plan, activities that are considered “core nutrition safety net programs” are to be continued in the event of a lapse.
These activities include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Child Nutrition programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, aka WIC.
The programs should continue operating during a lapse “subject to the availability of funding,” the plan states.
Are flights delayed because of the government shutdown?
While social media pages for many federal agencies, such as the TSA, aren’t being monitored during the shutdown, updates have been posted regarding security screening times.
According to TSA, the agency screened approximately 2.98 million travelers Oct. 9 with an average wait time of 5 minutes in standard lanes.
Contributing: USA Today’s James Powel, Zac Anderson, Joey Garrison, Bart Jansen, Saman Shafiq and Sarah D. Wire; and Reuters.
Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at kmccormick@gannett.com. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: How long is the government shut down? What’s closed during shutdown?
