By Renada Toyer
When Washington, DC can’t come to an agreement on funding, parts of the federal government immediately close their doors. A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass, or the president fails to sign bills that allow for agencies to keep running. Unnecessary federal employees are laid off or on leave without pay; services slow down, and programs that depend on yearly preemption can face interruptions until lawmakers take the time to fix the budget.
From a local aspect, the issues are silenced but just as real. School lunch programs that rely on federal reimbursement, families patiently waiting for financial aid, and community members who work for federal businesses and agencies feel the pressure. Contractors lose paychecks. Postal workers still deliver, but if the support of services is minimized, delays and disorientation can appear. As well as many households, a shutdown turns bills into everlasting stress and constant worry.
Chris Sanford, my sports literature teacher at Western High School, worries for students who count on school programs. “Kids come to school with hunger,” he says. “If food programs or support staff gets delayed, the people that get hit first by this downfall are the students who are already hanging by a thread.” Sanford’s voice is amplified—a teacher who is used to watching students who struggle day to day and have no one to help them. Teachers do their best to fill gaps, but classrooms can’t replace the systems.
Kara Mullins, the media studies and yearbook advisor at Western High School, sees the impact of funding detainment, and it shows up in the places most people don’t look at. “People tend to forget that extracurricular and creative programs also depend on federal support,” Mullins said. “When a shutdown hits, equipment orders are held back, grants are frozen, and software updates or cameras that are needed can’t be afforded. These things might sound small or not necessary, but these things are what keeps students involved, creative, and connected with their school.”
Her disappointment is based on experience as she’s watched driven and motivated students lose their spark not because they lack talent, but because the resources are lost. “A lot of students find their voices in the media,” she said. “But when they system closes, their opportunities close with it.”
Growing into a strong young lady today, I feel frustrated and despair watching shutdowns unravel. It’s difficult to understand how services and things people rely on every day can be treated like tools for arguments. It’s degrading that adults fail to work things out and come to common ground for the betterment of our country. Decisions like such affect people who have power over them yet feel the immediate consequences.
There are many ways to stop this constant cycle. Lawmakers could create automatic funding extensions that ensure programs from shutting down while discussions are happening. Schools, cities, and nonprofits that can build strong plans that keep food programs, financial aid, and community services pushing through when federal systems are delayed. As more young people become voters, we have the power and voice to demand leaders who treat consistent funding as a responsibility, not a weapon.
A shutdown should not be a routine; it should be the last resort. If the budget process wanted early compromise and protection for services from political fights, fewer families would be left struggling. Until that is possible, the strongest and safest support comes from the community. Neighbors coming together, schools reshaping, and local groups filling in gaps. This everyday step into change is what keeps people motivated when the system continuously fails them. It is a reminder of what teamwork looks like. As years begin to pass, we must remember one simple word: Unity.
