The Other Victims Of The U.S. Government Shutdown

Nevin Barich

Nevin Barich

LOS ANGELES , January 15, 2019 () – My wife and I have been affected by the federal government shutdown.

No, we don’t work for the government. So we’re not among the approximately 800,000 workers who went last week without receiving a paycheck. But the shutdown did hit us in the wallet, specifically when it came to our income tax returns.

My wife and I have a 15-week-old son and we plan to use our upcoming tax refund to start a savings account for him. I noticed, however, a delay in the funds being received. When I asked my accountant about it, his response was simple and to the point:

It’s because of the government shutdown, Nevin. Because of it, the IRS is delaying everyone’s tax refunds.

It may sound naïve, but until this happened, I didn’t give much thought to who else gets affected by the government shutting down. Of course we’ve all heard about the government workers. But other, everyday citizens are also feeling the pain. For example, if you’re getting a Federal Housing Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs loan, it’s likely you can expect delays in the underwriting process, and it’s possible your closing date will be pushed back as well.

If you’re planning to use air travel during the shutdown, bear in mind that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are among those whose work is deemed essential, meaning they must continue to report for work – without pay. Coincidentally, TSA employees have been calling in sick in unprecedented numbers, the New York Times reported, creating crippling airport backups. The TSA is reportedly beginning to close some security checkpoints.

Also, millions of Americans who depend on federally subsidized housing run the risk of eviction. Funding for major programs such as Section 8 vouchers, which serves an estimated 5 million Americans in 2.2 million households, has lapsed.

Regardless of whether you believe the government shutdown is valid or nothing more than a political power play, one thing is clear: Government employees aren’t the only victims here.

Nevin Barich is the Food and Beverage Analyst for Industry Intelligence, which can help YOU better address your own industry challenges. We invite you to come take a look at our service. Call us today at 310-553-0008 and we’ll schedule you for a 15-minute demo.

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