The federal government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to reach a deal on funding. There is uncertainty about how long the shutdown could last, with the White House budget office directing agencies to prepare for widespread furloughs. While political leaders remain at an impasse, the consequences will be felt immediately by workers, families, and the frontline organizations they rely on. In the wake of this news, the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, and the United Way of New York State have issued the following joint statement:
“A government shutdown doesn’t just freeze federal workers’ paychecks — it ripples across the entire workforce and nonprofit sector. Frontline organizations, already stretched thin, are forced to do more with less as demand for basic services spikes. Rising rents, food insecurity, and healthcare costs already squeeze families. Withdrawing federal funds from the system exacerbates the affordability crisis and leaves vulnerable New Yorkers with nowhere to turn.
When contracts and grants stall, shelter staff, case managers, child welfare professionals, and other nonprofit workers face layoffs, program closures, or impossible choices between serving more people with fewer resources. New York’s nonprofit sector, which delivers critical services in every community across the state, cannot absorb these shocks on its own. An already stagnant labor market will face deeper strain amid a prolonged government shutdown and mounting economic uncertainty.
As leaders of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, and the United Way of New York State, we call upon Congress to act immediately to end this shutdown and pass a federal budget that protects workers and ensures that vital services are available to those who need them. The success of our economy and the well-being of our communities demands nothing less.”