4 ways federal shutdown pain will spread to millions more Americans
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Federal funding to programs that millions rely on, from early education to food and utility bill aid have shut down, leaving families scrambling for help.
Why it matters: As the shutdown marks its fourth consecutive week with no end in sight, the pain of federal closures is spreading far past government employees.
Driving the news: The double whammy of federal dollars drying up and looming monthly bills is set to deliver a punishing hit to Americans' pocketbooks on Nov. 1.
- The anticipated blow to the nation's safety net comes after the Trump administration slashed benefits and targeted key programs in revamps through the president's marquee spending bill.
What they're saying: "Every day is getting decidedly harder for small businesses and hard working Americans across the country," House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X Monday.
- The White House declined to comment on this story.
Here are four ways the shutdown is about to get much worse:
Affordable Care Act premiums
Roughly 22 million Americans will see their ACA insurance premiums rise if the program's tax credits aren't extended.
- The average premium could jump from $888 to $1,904 per year, a 114% rise.
Zoom in: That sticker shock could encourage some Americans to decide that insurance is too expensive for them, and may forgo coverage altogether, as Axios' Peter Sullivan previously reported.
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program
Approximately 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to put food on the table, and that funding is set to run out Nov. 1.
- Multiple states have already warned residents that they should brace for the cuts, although some localities are looking at ways to cover the shortfall, at least temporarily.
Of note: Food banks are sounding the alarm that they will not have enough resources to support the expected influx of Americans who need support, upping the likelihood that some families will go hungry.
Head Start
65,000 children enrolled in the early education program are at risk of losing access to their classrooms on Nov. 1, according to the National Head Start Association.
- That's nearly 10% of all children involved in the program, and will affect approximately 140 Head Start programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The shutdown delayed the release of $3.6 billion in utility assistance funding, according to an House Democrats-produced appropriations report.
- The roughly 5 million households that depend on the program won't receive assistance to pay their energy bills as America approaches the coldest months of the year.
By the numbers: Roughly one in six, or 21.5 million households, are behind on their energy bills, according to a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
- The association describes itself as the "primary educational and policy organization for state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program."
- Its estimate could increase as rising electricity costs outpace inflation, further straining families' budgets.
Go deeper: How the government shutdown could disrupt daily life
