After weeks of political gridlock, the federal government has finally reopened, and while the news brought a wave of relief, it didn’t magically undo the damage. Millions of Americans, from federal workers to families relying on basic services, spent more than a month stuck in uncertainty, and the aftermath is shaping up to be just as defining as the shutdown itself.
According to CNN, the bipartisan funding bill that ended the shutdown immediately restored pay, which was around $9 billion. On paper, this looks like instant relief. Families who missed multiple paychecks are now untangling late fees, rent notices and wiped-out savings accounts. Many workers went to food banks for the first time in their lives.
Still, no American should ever have to rely on charity because their government decided to shut itself down like a faulty laptop.
The impact goes deeper than inconvenience. Many Americans spent the last month relying on their community, loans and other jobs.
A reopened government doesn’t magically refill bank accounts. The aftershock will last long after the headlines fade. That’s not an inconvenience; it’s a long-term financial sabotage.
What makes it worse is that Congress knew exactly who would be hurt first and hardest. They knew the shutdown wouldn’t touch their own paychecks or job stability. The people with the least political power were the ones forced to shoulder the burden of political stubbornness.
Even essential programs have suffered. Programs like SNAP and WIC were pushed to their limits. Families relying on formula, groceries and assistance faced delays and communication breakdowns.
Once a family realizes the government can just stop functioning, how are they supposed to feel secure ever again?
Air travelers also felt the strain. Thousands of flights were delayed or canceled due to low staffing across the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration. Shutting down the government doesn’t just inconvenience travelers. It literally becomes a safety risk. Planes, air traffic systems and airport security are not optional luxuries. They’re everyday necessities for many that the shutdown undermined.
Community support played a huge role during the shutdown. Politically, the reopening signals a temporary return to function, but it also highlights the country’s exhaustion with brinkmanship. The shutdown didn’t just close offices — it disrupted lives, strained relationships and undermined confidence in a government that’s supposed to serve the people, not hold them hostage.
Reopening isn’t a victory. It’s a relief that should never have been necessary. Congress shouldn’t be praised for extinguishing a fire it lit itself. The trauma, instability and financial damage are going to follow people far longer than the news cycle will.
The shutdown may be over, but the bruise remains. If lawmakers want to rebuild trust, they need to prove this won’t become a normalized bargaining tactic. They need to remember that stability is a responsibility.
AJ Pearman can be reached at [email protected].