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dailynebraskan.com
It’s embarrassing. That’s all I have to say. It’s not a positive thing.” Tatiana Davila
Thursday, october 3, 2013
senior geology major
I don’t think (Congress members) should be paid while they aren’t working and the government is shut down.”
I don’t really know. I think it’s selfish because they can’t agree.” Jon Jarmon
SAMANTHA KETTELER
senior psychology major
sophomore economics major
volume 113, issue 029
the
FACING FEDERAL
SHUTDOWN About
1,350,000
“essential” federal employees, not including postal workers, are still at work. More than
800,000
federal workers are considered “non-essential” and won’t be paid until the shutdown is over.
The last government shutdown lasted from late 1995 to early 1996. It lasted $
21
days.
The shutdown could impact the more than
14 MILLION
$
9 ways the government shutdown could affect University of NebraskaLincoln students
students who receive student aid, in the form of grants and loans, at more than 6,600 schools nationwide.
The government shutdown, which took effect Tuesday when Congress failed to agree on a spending bill, will have many impacts both large and small. While legislators and the president will continue working and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will operate as usual, student aid and other “non-essential” roles of the federal government could see a few changes.
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1. ANYONE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A GUN WILL HAVE TO WAIT.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has stopped processing all applications for firearms.
2. NATIONAL PARKS WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
More than 400 national park units throughout the U.S., at least 10 of which are in Nebraska, will be closed until the shutdown ends. That includes Homestead National Monument in Beatrice and Niobrara National Scenic River.
3. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL MAY NOT BE CONDUCTING ITS SEASONAL FLU FORECAST.
The flu forecast is currently on hold because the CDC isn’t in operation and can’t gather up-to-date information.
4. THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IS HALTING MOST OF ITS INSPECTIONS.
Most routine safety inspections won’t take place until the government is back in operation, meaning about 80 facilities will go uninspected each day. State agriculture and health departments will take over some of the inspections.
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6. PAYMENTS TO VETERANS MAY CEASE.
According to the Veterans Affairs’ website, most call centers and hotlines will be closed, and the department will run out of money for pension checks in a matter of weeks. “Claims processing and payments in the compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs are anticipated to continue through late October,” the website said. Representatives from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Veterans Affairs Office said they have not been given any information about benefits so far. They encouraged veterans with questions to check the VA’s website for more information.
On Wednesday, stocks closed lower than the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial average ended the day down 0.4 percent, which is about 58.6 points.
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5. STOCKS ARE BEGINNING TO FALL.
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7. STUDENTS WORKING AND INTERNING IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WILL HAVE SOME TIME OFF.
“We’ve got a lot of students interning and working on Capitol Hill. They’re not able to work or get paid,” said Tyler White, undergraduate political science adviser. “It’s a very unfortunate thing. It’s a pity. This was a move that a small caucus in the House of Representatives used to make a point about a bill they didn’t like, and it has profound consequences.”
8. ROTC PROGRAMS COULD LOSE EMPLOYEES.
The university’s ROTC programs could be affected because they are programs of the Department of Defense. It most likely will not affect students, but it could send some employees home. Lt. Col. Bohn, the Air Force ROTC Commander and an aerospace studies professor, said the program’s mission “will continue in the short term.” “But eventually our ability to fulfill our mission will be hindered,” he said. “For example, in the long run, we won’t be able to get our cadets the medical exams to apply for scholarships. It’s regrettable that this is happening, but we’ll adapt.”
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9. FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS COULD BE DELAYED.
If the government shutdown lasts longer than a week, it could potentially slow funding to colleges with federal grants. “It would begin to interfere with the financial aid application process,” said Craig Munier, director of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Large federal aid systems, like FAFSA, should be fine, but smaller ones like Pell Grants and Direct Student Loan payments will be affected because they require U.S. Education Department employees to function. And the shutdown may delay or pause programs such as Federal Work-Study and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.