Government Shutdown Begins, Impacting Services adn Workers in Massachusetts
BOSTON – A partial government shutdown began, impacting federal services and leaving thousands of Massachusetts employees facing uncertainty. The shutdown, stemming from a lack of congressional agreement on federal funding, is already causing closures and disruptions across the state.
The immediate effects include the closure of several federally-staffed national parks and historic sites in Massachusetts. The Boston African American National Historic Site, including the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, is shuttered, as are parts of the boston National Ancient Park – specifically the USS Constitution and Boston harbor Islands. While Freedom Trail tours through the Freedom Foundation will continue, the shutdown underscores the broad reach of federal involvement in daily life and the potential for widespread disruption.
Approximately 25,698 federal civilian employees in Massachusetts, along with nearly 15,000 military personnel, are now working without pay.Unlike these workers, members of Congress and President Trump will continue to receive their paychecks during the shutdown.
This isn’t the first time Massachusetts has faced this situation. During a government shutdown lasting over a month in the past, state officials explored options to support furloughed workers, including considering state unemployment benefits and facilitating zero-interest loans from local banks.
The shutdown is also impacting healthcare initiatives. UMass Memorial Health has been forced to pause its “Hospital at Home” program,which provides hospital-level care to patients in their residences,due to the expiration of a funding provision tied to Medicare. “physicians and medics are incredibly disappointed,” said program director Dr. Constantinos Michaelidis.
The duration of the shutdown and its ultimate impact remain uncertain, but the initial effects are already being felt by federal employees and the public across Massachusetts.
