The government shut down that began this week has been the talk of the town, in fact it’s been the talk of the Nation. The trending topic of all media outlets, Monday, September 30th was the end of the of the U.S. financial year. Unable to agree before the deadline, the Congress, House of Representatives and Senate caused the government to shut down all “non-essential” services. Without an approved budget deal, many people employed by the government deemed “non-essential” are on leave without pay.
Most seemed to be unfazed by the shutdown of these “non-essential” services or the shutdown in general, yet there’s a very high probability that they are not aware what the “non-essential” services being released are. For example, medical research cannot move forward under the shutdown, furthermore cancer patients, many of them children, are not being admitted into institutions that could help them. While the Environmental Protection Agency that focuses on the public health and safety will be functioning during the shutdown, the work will be compromised. They government has limited those who are able to work, to solely focus on work that relates to an “imminent threat”; essentially throwing the minor problems, which are still problems nonetheless, to the wayside.
To add, all National Parks are closed until further notice. The FDA will be unable to review and possible approve new drugs. Some of the drugs that were scheduled to be reviewed this month provide help to postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and treat arthritis in cancer patients. The majority are not aware of the trickle-down effect that the government shut down has and will continue to cause. Perhaps, the majority is also not aware of all of the services that the government provides to the public. Unfortunately, they may not be cognizant of the effect that the shutdown could have on them if it continues, until it’s too late.