The longest government shutdown in history has briefly ended after 35 days, but the effects are being felt nationwide. While 800,000 federal employees were furloughed, they were not the only ones being impacted. A blog post from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta highlights how nonprofits are also being affected. Many organizations also called for an end to the shutdown.
The National Council of Nonprofits authored a letter urging the President and Congress to immediately reopen the federal government. Unfortunately, despite many efforts to pass legislation that would end the shutdown, lawmakers remained at an impasse. Without a functioning federal government, vital programs were going unfunded in communities across the nation.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted in an article that SNAP recipients are especially in jeopardy. Although they received February benefits in January, people will have to wait until March 1st (and some even later) to receive their March benefits. This leaves a significant gap of time where many will have to seek out alternative means of feeding their families and will turn to food banks.
Food banks, however, are already overwhelmed from the increase in foot traffic from furloughed workers. If funding is allowed to lapse again, this burden will only grow. Even federal courts are feeling the squeeze as delays and disruptions in cases increase. Immigration courts, already backlogged before the shutdown, are expected to delay some cases for 2 years or more.
As often occurs when funding falters, nonprofits have stepped in to cover large gaps. The Chronicle of Philanthropy outlines some of the ways funders are helping to bolster the social safety net in their communities as well as lift the burden from furloughed employees. Arabella Associates hosted a donor briefing regarding the shutdown and offered many creative ideas for funders to address the impacts of the shutdown on local communities. Their webinar gives an overview of the impacts of the shutdown (both short and long-term) and provides much-needed insight to interested funders. One idea worth noting is the Resilience Fund which supports the needs of nonprofits responding to changes in federal policy. The Greater Washington Community Foundation is one of the partners of this fund and has dedicated $50,000 in funding for emergency cash and food relief for local workers impacted by the shutdown.
While the shutdown was temporarily ended for three weeks to allow for negotiation, the problems that arose as a result of the shutdown have continued. The President has given legislators until February 15th to reach an agreement but has stated he will let funding lapse again or declare a national emergency to bypass Congress if he does not receive funding for the border wall.
NY Funders Alliance will continue to bring you updates on this story. Be sure to check back for more information and new content!
Date Published: Friday, February 1st, 2019.
Update (3/4/2019): On the day of the deadline, February 15th, the President signed a spending and border security plan into law to keep the government running through September 30th, effectively ending the shutdown. This plan allots $1.375 billion to construct new fencing along 55 miles of the U.S. – Mexico border. He also declared a National Emergency to repurpose funds from other areas of the government for the rest of the border wall money without congressional approval. This prompted mixed reactions and elicited some backlash.
A bipartisan group of 58 former senior national security officials issued a statement on Monday, February 25th that asserts there is no factual basis for the President’s proclamation of a national emergency. A group of former GOP lawmakers urged current Republican representatives to block the emergency declaration.
House Democrats have also introduced a resolution that would block Trump’s emergency declaration. The House voted Tuesday, February 26th to block his declaration. The Senate now has 18 days to hold a vote. The President has stated he would use his veto power should it also pass the Senate.
Check back for more updates on this topic soon!
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