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The US federal shutdown, which has lasted almost a month without a resolution, is having serious consequences for key sectors. Airports are facing severe delays due to staffing shortages, while millions of families fear they will be left without food aid starting in November.
At the country's main airports, especially in Los Angeles, flight delays and cancellations have been recorded tenfold. The main cause is the shortage of air traffic controllers and security officers, many of whom have continued to work without pay since the shutdown began. Some have begun to call due to exhaustion or inability to cover their personal expenses.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the situation could worsen if Congress doesn't soon pass a budget that would revive federal funding. “Every day that passes, the air system becomes more fragile,” he told local media.
Food crisis amid federal government shutdown
But the crisis is not limited to airports. The United States Department of Agriculture announced that funds from the food assistance program SNAP could run out in November if a political agreement is not reached. More than 40 million people depend on this benefit to buy basic food.
Food banks and social organizations have issued emergency alerts in response to what they describe as "a catastrophe caused by political inaction." Some of these organizations are already experiencing an increase in demand for food and fear the situation could spiral out of control if the closure continues.
The origin of the conflict lies in the disagreement between Congress and the White House over the funding bill for the new fiscal year. Without this approval, federal agencies cannot pay their employees or keep essential programs running.
While lawmakers remain at odds, the consequences are falling on citizens. Airport delays, families facing food insecurity, and a general climate of frustration mark the impact of a government shutdown that, if prolonged, could become one of the costliest in recent history.
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