Closing Time

For years, I couldn’t wait for 9 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Not because of a favorite TV show—but because that was closing time at the bridal salon where I worked during high school and college. Closing time meant freedom: locking the doors, turning off the lights, and heading home to whatever else life had planned—friends, homework, or maybe just sleep.

Closing time in the working world is a relief. But when the federal government closes its doors, it’s a very different story. And right now, that’s exactly the situation we’re facing.

We’ve Seen This Before—Or Have We?
Government shutdowns aren’t new, and we know the routine: national parks close, passport applications are delayed, and research projects are put on hold. Federal employees are either furloughed or, in some cases, required to work without pay until a budget deal is reached.

Millions rely on programs now at risk. The WIC nutrition program, serving over seven million low-income mothers and children, could run out of funds within weeks. SNAP benefits are paid a month ahead, so October may feel normal—but a prolonged shutdown could quickly complicate the process.

Not everything stops during a shutdown. Essential services—like Social Security and Medicare payments, active-duty military operations, and air traffic control continue running.

It feels like we’ve seen this movie before. But this time, the sequel comes with an unsettling twist.

Times Have Changed
In past shutdowns, the pause button was pressed—painful, yes, but temporary. Now, the current Administration has floated permanent cuts and layoffs. Thousands of federal jobs could disappear.

The Administration has halted billions in infrastructure funding, including $2.1 billion for Chicago’s transit system and $18 billion for New York. Department of Energy projects across 16 states are also facing cuts.

This is more than an inconvenience—it’s the unraveling of long-term investments that communities were counting on.

Healthcare on the Line
The current budget battle hinges on the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. First introduced in 2021 and later extended through 2025, these subsidies have made health coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. Since their introduction, enrollment in the ACA Marketplace has more than doubled, growing from roughly 11 million to over 24 million people.
But if these enhanced credits expire, the cost to families could be crushing.

Consider this: a 60-year-old couple making $85,000 a year would see their annual premiums skyrocket by more than $22,600. That’s nearly a quarter of their income—up from just 8.5% today. A 45-year-old earning $20,000 could see their premium go from $0 to $420 a year. Nearly half of all Marketplace enrollees are in the lowest income bracket, meaning the hit would be hardest on those least able to absorb it.

Shared Stakes
You might be thinking: I don’t buy insurance through the ACA. I have coverage through work. Or Medicare. Why should this matter to me?

On one level you should care out of empathy—because millions of families will face impossible choices if coverage becomes unaffordable. But even if empathy doesn’t move you, the reality is unavoidable: when people can’t afford health insurance, they don’t stop getting sick. They just stop being insured. That means unpaid medical bills pile up, credit scores take a hit, and hospitals pass on costs to the rest of us.

Health care is not an individual issue—it’s a shared one. We are in this together.

Through the Quiet
Unlike closing time at a bridal salon, when the doors shut on government, we don’t get to walk away and pick up life where we left off. The consequences stay with us all—unless we raise our voices together to keep the doors open and the lights shining.

As Simon & Garfunkel sang, “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening.” When it comes to shutdowns and health care, we can’t afford to tune out—or stay silent.

Happy reading,
Suzanne Daniels,Ph.D.

Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]