The 'doomsday' scenario: Here's what happens if the shutdown drags on

NBC ^ | 10 JUL 19 | By Dareh Gregorian

[DCBryan1]

The country would face an economic hellscape if the government shutdown lasts "months or even years," as the president has suggested it might, experts tell NBC News.

The doomsday scenario might be unlikely — the longest the federal government has ever shut down is 21 days, a record that will fall if the current closure lasts until Saturday — but it is chilling.

"We'll be in no man's land," Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, told NBC News.

If the worst were to happen, experts say the devastating impact would be widespread:

•38 million low-income Americans lose food stamps
•6 million face an uncertain timetable for collecting tax refunds
•2 million without rental assistance and facing possible eviction
•800,000 paycheck-less federal employees plunged into dire financial straits
•Shuttered parks and museums while overstressed airports cause tourism to tank
•Federal court system slows to a crawl
•Disaster relief money doesn't get to storm-ravaged areas •Lapsed FDA and EPA inspections lead to dangerous outbreaks
•Private companies looking to go public are stuck in limbo
•Stock market plummets

The end isn't near — yet. But if the standoff persists

[Dr. Sivana]

No FDA inspection of meat.

Air Traffic controllers start looking for other work causing airport closures.

Federal Prison workers go unpaid including guards that are already understaffed and have to look for other work.

Well, I guess the meat inspectors (and everyone in the beef and pork food chains), air traffic controllers, TSA workers and federal prison guards ought to contact their unions and elected representatives and tell them to give Trump his stupid $5 billion.

[Cheerio]

Next I was like, "Oh its just NBC....fake news"...

NBC: Nothing But Crap

NBC: No Brains Collectively

[Mmogamer]

When did the fda start inspecting meat?

[Snickering Hound]

When Reagan fired ALL the striking ATC employees, NO airports closed.

There were enough supervisors and non striking controller to fill in and there was not nearly the air traffic that there is today.

There is currently a 2000 controller shortage even before the shutdown began and the existing controllers were putting in overtime.

Different era.

[lakeman]

Simple solution. Fund the wall Nancy.

[Ancesthntr]

So all of THIS will happen:

•38 million low-income Americans lose food stamps
•6 million face an uncertain timetable for collecting tax refunds
•2 million without rental assistance and facing possible eviction
•800,000 paycheck-less federal employees plunged into dire financial straits
•Shuttered parks and museums while overstressed airports cause tourism to tank
•Federal court system slows to a crawl
•Disaster relief money doesn’t get to storm-ravaged areas •Lapsed FDA and EPA inspections lead to dangerous outbreaks
•Private companies looking to go public are stuck in limbo
•Stock market plummets

just because Chuck and Nanzi won’t allow Trump to build a wall like dozens of other countries have, to keep out people who literally break our laws by placing their foot on American soil without proper permission? OK, fine, I’m sure that President Trump and the sane folks in the public will accept that.

The irony here is that Chuck’s and Nanzi’s constituents (or supposed constituents) are the ones who will be hurt the most...all so that a bunch of people can come in and take their jobs, take their welfare benefits and dilute their influence over policy. Wow, the intellectual horsepower necessary to pursue this policy is beyond my understanding.

[Dr. Sivana]

There were enough supervisors and non striking controller to fill in and there was not nearly the air traffic that there is today.

Yes, but the ones now are NOT going to leave all at once like they did in '81, and technology has improved greatly to allow fewer controllers to handle more traffic. AT least we know they won't attempt to go on strike this time.

[1Old Pro]

CBS This Morning did a story about how when the FDA stops inspecting .00001% of the food supply, here's a list of vulnerable foo types that you could die from because they are susceptible to salmonella and e-coli.

I Kid You Not, this was an actually story in the so called news today?!

[Mariner]

Meat inspections do not occur now. They do occasional spot check, and review producers QA programs for compliance.

ATC will not give up their juicy fed jobs. Won’t happen.

As far as I know Fed Prison guards/workers are not affected.

[Snickering Hound]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Safety_and_Inspection_Service

1906.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

None of this seems particularly apocalyptic, does it?

[Snickering Hound]

https://kfdm.com/news/local/hundreds-of-correctional-officers-unpaid-unhappy-with-government-shutdown

Federal Prison workers and guards are affected.

And just how many meat processors will remain open if they have to supply meat that hasn’t had an inspection and could leave them liable if tainted meat gets through?

Just how long can someone go without getting a paycheck before they have to find other work?

[Salman]

... Social Security ...

Social Security is an "entitlement" (this has a precise legal definition) and does not need a budget.

Debt service is paid first, then entitlements, then budget items.

[Chickensoup]

Please God,

Keep those fools at the EPA who regulates dishwashers and clothes washers at home forever and eliminate their jobs. So we can have clean effective appliances.

[nikos1121]

yes.

Methinks, that this was Trump’s plan all along, but he listened to staff members who insisted that he first go to the AMerican People and make one last effort.

Turns out that will be smart advice as he’s looking like the real deal maker in the room.

[Jacquerie]

Agree. PDJT should not declare an emergency. He should stand by and let the tide overwhelm the rats. They’ll cave.

[cuban leaf]

I noticed that too. I believe that is, technically, at least, funded.

[cuban leaf]

Yep. I didn’t see anything “scary” on that list. In fact, there were a few I’d like to see permanently go away.

So I’m good.

[1Old Pro]

Yep. I didn’t see anything “scary” on that list. In fact, there were a few I’d like to see permanently go away. So I’m good.

Pretty soon the Dems will notice that the shutdown is a shutdown of big government policies - everything Conservatives WANT and Dems fear.

[Snickering Hound]

Agree. PDJT should not declare an emergency. He should stand by and let the tide overwhelm the rats. They’ll cave.

Why would democrats cave other than that you want them too?

The party that holds the presidency in an economic crisis takes a beating.

A crashed economy guarantees a democrat president in 2020 with huge majorities in the House and Senate.