OP-ED: The Government Shutdown Proves We Need Skilled Trades

During the current government shutdown, essential infrastructure needs and services continue despite federal funding delays and workforce furloughs. The author argues that skilled trades workers—including electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians—represent a stable employment sector that operates independently of political disruptions in Washington. With an aging workforce retiring and societal emphasis on four-year degrees rather than vocational training, the U.S. faces a chronic shortage of skilled tradespeople that predates the shutdown.