Photo: AFP
Experts are warning that Black Americans will be hit the hardest by the looming government shutdown, per Capital B News.
On Wednesday (October 1), the government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. unless Congress passes a funding bill before the deadline.
Democrats are seeking to include $1 trillion for Medicaid in the funding bill, reversing Republican-led cuts. The party is also pushing to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to make health insurance more affordable. However, Republicans want a “clean” funding bill with no new policy changes, extending funding through November 21, giving lawmakers more time to negotiate a full-year spending plan.
The two parties remain at a standstill as the deadline looms. The White House Office of Management and Budget has reportedly told federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs if a deal isn’t reached.
If a shutdown begins, non-essential federal workers will be furloughed without pay. Essential employees, like air traffic controllers or law enforcement officers, must keep working, but also without pay until Congress reaches a deal.
Black Americans are overrepresented in the federal jobforce, making up nearly 20 percent of workers. Federal jobs have historically offered Black Americans protection from private-sector discrimination, equal pay scales, and opportunities for career advancement. Public service opened the door to middle-class stability for many Black families.
However, looming disruptions to the federal government are set to hit the Black community the hardest.
Michael Neal, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, noted that Black workers are often less able to weather income disruptions.
“They don’t have as much savings, on average, to replace their lost income,” he said.
Research shows white households have an average of $8,100 in liquid savings, while Black households average just $1,500.
“In my experience, there are far fewer African Americans in the higher grades,” Cheryl Monroe, a former IRS employee, previously said. “White people have the more lucrative jobs in the government. They are able to save... It’s harder for Black people. We’re always starting at the bottom.”
The U.S. government has shut down 21 times, but they’ve become more common in the past decade, as they are being used to push political agendas. Neal noted that more frequent shutdowns and funding volatility may make some Black workers rethink public service.
“If you’re starting to see greater volatility — one moment you’re working, the next you’re furloughed and not sure when your next paycheck is coming — that might make people pause,” Neal said. “They might ask if a federal government job is actually going to give them the lifestyle they’re looking for.”
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