Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days, But Fallout Still Felt Across Black Communities

November 13, 2025

The federal government reopened after a historic 43-day shutdown when President Trump signed legislation extending funding temporarily through January for most agencies and through September for programs like SNAP. The shutdown caused approximately 900,000 federal workers to be furloughed and 700,000 to work without pay, while threatening food assistance for over 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP benefits. Black communities faced disproportionate harm due to higher reliance on federal safety-net programs and greater vulnerability to economic disruptions.

Who is affected

Approximately 900,000 furloughed federal employees and 700,000 federal workers required to work without pay
Over 40 million Americans (1 in 8 people) who rely on SNAP for food security
Black communities nationwide who disproportionately depend on federal safety-net programs
Roughly 1.4 million Michigan residents (13% of state households) who depend on SNAP benefits
Black households who face higher rates of food insecurity and medical debt
Workers and travelers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport affected by air-traffic staffing reductions
Americans relying on Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies facing premium increases

What action is being taken

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is working around the clock to protect families from losing food access and resumed full SNAP payments beginning November 10
Michigan is coordinating with food banks and nonprofits to handle rising demand
Senator Erika Geiss is pushing for a review of economic damage from the 10% air traffic reduction at 40 major U.S. airports
Senator Sarah Anthony is advancing legislation addressing medical debt and predatory collection practices
USDA officials are working to resume SNAP payments in many states within 24 hours of funding restoration
Senate Democrats are working to draft a bill extending ACA subsidies

Why it matters

The shutdown exposed critical vulnerabilities in federal safety-net systems that millions of Americans, particularly Black communities, depend on for daily survival. When government funding lapses, the consequences cascade through households already facing structural inequality, forcing impossible choices between basic necessities like rent, food, and medical care. For Black Americans who are overrepresented in low-income brackets and have fewer financial reserves due to generations of under-compensation and systemic barriers, these disruptions carry magnified impact. The situation reveals that federal programs remain fragile and politically contingent rather than guaranteed, while demonstrating that government shutdowns as political leverage often yield no meaningful policy gains while extracting real costs from vulnerable communities.

What's next

Senate Democrats have roughly a month to draft a bill extending ACA subsidies in a way that persuades enough Republicans to pass it
Government funding for many agencies expires again at the end of January
Nine appropriations bills remain incomplete and require resolution
Some Republicans say they will consider reforms to ACA subsidies, including fraud prevention and income caps
Enhanced ACA marketplace subsidies are set to expire at year's end, with significant premium increases expected

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle