By Aidan Fox ’16, News Staff Writer

On October 1, after the government could not come to an agreement on how to fund itself, it shut down. The shutdown had far-reaching consequences. Immediately, over 800,000 federal employees were furloughed, or forced to take a leave of absence without pay. An additional 1.3 million federal employees and 1.4 million military personnel were deemed “essential employees,” and were forced to work, but with a delayed paycheck. These exigent circumstances strained the personal finances of many government workers, who often live paycheck-to-paycheck. As a result, according to the United States Department of Labor, 70,000 federal employees filed for unemployment benefits during the first week of October.

The government shutdown did not just affect federal employees, but had far-reaching effects on all governmental agencies. For instance, the National Institute of Health, which provides cutting-edge and experimental treatment as a last resort for many patients, had to turn away, according to CBS News, 200 people, including 30 children, as a result of the shutdown. The Center for Disease Control even had to send home employees whose job is to track disease outbreaks. In the Defense Department alone, 400,000 civilian employees were furloughed. National parks and monuments, which include everything from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon, were, for a time, shuttered. The Small Business Administration, which gives out loans to facilitate small businesses, stopped initiating new loans. In other words, many critical, and even life-saving, government services were either shut down or seriously hindered.

The shutdown occurred because Republicans, led by House Speaker John Boehner and Senator Ted Cruz, insisted on defunding Obamacare as a condition of funding the government. The Democrats, and President Obama especially, refused, as it would dismantle one of their largest legislative accomplishments of the past five years. Math teacher Ms. Gordon said, “I like the Affordable Care Act because I have known so many people in my life who have had issues getting insured, and I think the way this country handles healthcare is awful, especially because people who can’t afford insurance have to go to emergency rooms, which is covered by taxpayers.” However, some have denounced Obamacare because of its cost, which is funded by taxpayer money, and because it may hurt the medical industry. Young Republicans co-president Jai Ghose ’14 believes that employment in the medical field will take a hit. “[Obamacare’s] employer mandate incentivizes part time labor, […] so that the less skilled are left with inadequate jobs.”

Some were critical of the Republican negotiating strategy. “By shutting down the government over a law they disagree with, House Republicans are setting a precedent for shutting down the government every time someone hates a law,” Ms. Gordon said. However, some saw it as a natural process of democracy. “[The shutdown] reflects the balance of power between the House and the Senate and Congress and the Executive Branch. These relationships are complex and subject to hostilities, of course, but they are a vital part of democracy,” said humanities teacher Mr. Vinikoor.

Whatever your take is on the political machinations surrounding the recent crisis, it’s clear the shutdown has had a significant impact. According to Standard & Poor’s rating agency, the shutdown shaved 0.6% off of inflation-adjusted GDP, which is about $24 billion. Poll numbers for both parties have taken a hit, with the overall approval rating of Congress at a dismal 11%, according to a recent Gallup poll. Although the shutdown has ended, the fundamental issues causing political gridlock have not been answered, and thus there are still more political battles left to be fought.