Beth Johnson is accustomed to the uncertainty that comes with being a military wife - picking up and moving her family every three years. However, the crippling anxiety that comes with a US government shutdown is not something she is used to.
She is one of the millions of Americans who sighed a deep breath of relief when politicians in Washington agreed to reopen the government earlier this week. At 43 days, it was the longest shutdown in US history. But that relief could be short-lived, as the funding agreement expires at the end of January, when Congress will face the same spending challenge once again.
It really affects every part of your life when your family’s sole source of income comes from the federal government,” Ms Johnson said. The uncertainty is crippling.\
The Tennessee mother of two has lived in seven states since her husband joined the military nearly 20 years ago. Picking up and moving her family every three years means it is tough for her - and other service members' spouses - to get work, so the Johnson family lives on one paycheck. Not knowing whether military service members would receive their paychecks during the shutdown left her family with difficult decisions.
During the recent shutdown, 1.3 million active-duty personnel were required to serve potentially without pay. However, the Trump administration stepped in twice to ensure those servicemembers received financial support. Many families, including Ms. Johnson’s, had to tighten their belts. One of her sons even offered to forgo Christmas gifts, stating, it’s ok we don’t need them.\
Ms Johnson expressed her frustration about the sacrifices made during the shutdown. What was it all for? Why were we suffering for over 40 days in uncertainty? she questioned. We’re just going to go through this again probably in January.”
The recent agreement funds the government for the next two months and guarantees that all federal workers will be paid for the time they were affected by the shutdown, ensuring food aid programs like SNAP, which assist one in eight Americans, remain operational until next September.
As the weeks go by, many are preparing for possible future agony, with families like the Johnsons and others in similar situations planning their finances under the looming shadow of legislative uncertainty.
