Over 15 Million Latinos Face Direct Harm as Government Shutdown Enters Ninth Day - Voto Latino

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Over 15 Million Latinos Face Direct Harm as Government Shutdown Enters Ninth Day

From 300,000 unpaid federal workers to millions losing food and health assistance, Latino families are bearing the brunt of Washington’s gridlock.

Washington, D.C. — As the federal government shutdown drags into its ninth day, its consequences are rippling across Latino communities nationwide from lost wages and delayed benefits to deep uncertainty about food, housing, and health care.

This government shutdown is a direct assault on Latino families who keep the country running. From federal workers and small business owners, to families relying on nutrition and health programs, more than 15 million Latinos are being hit hardest by Washington’s dysfunction. Over 300,000 Latino federal employees are now working without pay or have been sent home without knowing when their next paycheck will come. These are parents and caregivers doing everything right — showing up and serving the country — yet they’re being forced to choose between gas, groceries, and rent.

Beyond paychecks, this shutdown threatens the safety net that millions of Latino families depend on — including SNAP and WIC benefits, health clinics, and housing programs. Each day of delay deepens the crisis. The human toll is staggering: the people who keep our airports running, deliver our mail, and care for our national parks are struggling to afford food and prescriptions. The very workers and families who sustain this nation are being caught in the crossfire of a political standoff that treats their livelihoods as collateral.

How the Shutdown is Impacting Latino Communities

The shutdown continues to hit Latino communities hardest — deepening financial insecurity, delaying critical services, and widening inequities nationwide:

  • Latino Federal Workforce: With Latinos comprising 10.5% of the federal workforce, it is imperative to reopen the government to ensure that the livelihoods of over 300,000 Latino federal workers are restored. 
  • Access to Health Care: The shutdown threatens vital services such as telehealth coverage for 6.7 million Medicare patients expired this week. Among those who rely on accessible telehealth care, 30% are Latino beneficiaries who depend on this service for their medical needs. That is over 2 million Latinos that will face obstacles in seeking essential care. Nearly 18% of nonelderly Latinos are uninsured and 55% are inadequately insured, meaning disruptions to Medicare and community clinics will hit Latino families especially hard.
  • WIC and SNAP at Risk: With the government shutdown, both WIC and SNAP resources are at risk of being exhausted unless the government reopens. For over 3 million Latinos, WIC is a lifeline that supports their families’ health, nutrition, and well-being. When it comes to SNAP, nearly 10 million Latinos rely on the program to put food on the table—and each day the shutdown drags on, their access to these essential benefits grows more uncertain.
  • Impact on Livelihoods: While paychecks remain paused during the government shutdown, thousands of federal employees deemed “essential” are still required to work without pay. These roles include air traffic controllers and postal workers—positions critical to keeping the country running. Approximately 2,500 Latino air traffic controllers, and over 86,000 postal workers are among those continuing to serve despite the financial uncertainty.
  • Latino-Owned Small Businesses: Latino-owned small businesses that depend on government contracts, payments, or approvals risk major revenue losses during a shutdown. Given the rapid growth of Latino entrepreneurship, the effects would be widespread and deeply felt across communities.

It’s time for our representatives to return to the negotiating table and deliver a solution that meets the needs of the American people and restores stability. Our communities deserve respect, not neglect.

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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.