It’s now been more than a month since Trump and Republicans in Congress shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to help lower health care costs for Americans. Instead of working to fund food assistance and keep health care premiums from rising for everyday Americans, the Trump administration has focused on funding private jets and ballrooms.
The shut down is wreaking havoc on women’s and families’ economic security. And new research from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office calculates how that chaos impacts the economy as a whole, estimating that if the shutdown lasts through the end of November it could cost the economy up to $14 billion.
That’s a lot of money – but exactly how much? As we enter the sixth week of the longest government shut down in history, here are 6 things that you could have for $14 billion:
1. More than a month and a half of SNAP benefits.
Federal spending on SNAP benefits totaled nearly $100 billion last year. The program provides nutrition support for more than 40 million people each month, primarily children and older adults. President Trump has threatened to withhold and delay SNAP benefits until the end of the shutdown, despite a court order to use available emergency funding to provide benefits.
2. More than a year of Head Start.
Head Start, which costs $12.3 billion each year, supports the early learning, development and health of more than 700,000 children across the country each year. Head Start programs in 41 states are already threatened by the shutdown.
3. Nearly two years of WIC funding.
WIC, which costs about $7.6 billion a year, provides nutrition support for close to 7 million women and children each month, including 4 in 10 infants. While WIC benefits have continued thus far during the shutdown, the stop gap funding is temporary and their future is uncertain.
4. Roughly 3.5 years of heating assistance.
LIHEAP, which costs just over $4 billion annually, provides assistance to roughly 6 million households to keep people warm in the winter and cool in the summer so they are safe and healthy. Just as winter sets in across the country, the shutdown threatens to delay LIHEAP support.
5. More than three decades of EEOC funding.
The EEOC, which costs $455 million each year, enforces laws that protect civil rights, equal pay, pregnancy discrimination, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and more to keep workers safe on the job. Only a fraction of EEOC workers are on the job during the shutdown, leaving workers in limbo.
6. 683 years of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline costs $20.5 million each year and fields more than 1 million requests for support and information. The shutdown threatens resources that survivors need to stay safe.
Congress should reopen the government and increase funding for essential programs to ensure women and families can thrive, not waste money and threaten families’ well being.
Methods note: All dollar comparisons are based on FY 2025 enacted funding except for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and SNAP which are based on FY 2024 figures.
