Government Shutdown has Created Problems for GW Community

By Alex Nowakowski

The federal government shutdown that began on October 1^st, sending all nonessential federal employees home indefinitely and putting government funding hold, has shown some but not huge effects on the University. But if Congress fails to end the shutdown, there could be negative consequences for GW students and professors.

The Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service has estimated that 50 students have had trouble receiving federal aid, as they have been prevented from working at their federal work study programs. GW Spokesman Kurtis Hiatt said that the Law School, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and School of Public Health and Health Services reported that students have faced challenges regarding their credit-bearing internships with federal agencies.

“The schools are seeking solutions that that will allow students to make additional progress toward their credit requirements after the shutdown ends,” Hiatt said.

GW’s rowing teams has been affected as well due to the current closing of the Thompson Boat Center, a National Park Service facility. The teams are currently using space at the Anacostia Community Boathouse, which was offered by Gonzaga College High School.

Faculty research has for the most part not been affected by the shutdown, but some grants have been stalled. The Health Resources and Services Administration issued a stop-work order on health policy Professor Marsha Regenstein’s $2.3 million grant to study the effectiveness of community-based teaching hospitals.

When WRGW News contacted Regenstein, she had no further comment.

The National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation are still providing grant funding, but have advised institutions, including GW, not to submit new grant requests.

 “The real problem comes with new research projects. No one is reviewing the proposals our faculty have already submitted, and there is no one to accept new submissions,” Chemistry Department Operations Manager Shanna Roth said. 

A failure to raise the debt ceiling, which reaches its capacity at midnight, creates the possibility of delayed Medicare and student-aid payments. According to Forbes Magazine, if these student aid payments are delayed, it will be colleges that would have to make-up the difference for the lack of money from the Department of Education, not students or parents.

Those most likely to be hurt by a continued shutdown or a failure to raise the debt ceiling would be Veterans. The approximate 1,000 students receiving benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs are unable to access technical assistance. The Department of Veterans Affairs has informed GW that it may be unable to pay benefits, including housing stipends, if the shutdown continues.

Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has suspended issuance of new tuition assistance awards to active duty students. If the shutdown continues to the start of next semester, active duty military students will not receive aid for those classes.

Andrew Desiderio contributed to this report.