“As the government shutdown is set to become the longest in U.S. history, Pennsylvania organizations that rely on government support are experiencing an unusual and devastating double whammy.
That’s because the state is in the midst of its own budget impasse. The Republican-controlled Senate and the Democratic House have been in a deadlock over the 2025-26 budget for more than 120 days, freezing billions in state funding…
Daniel Mallinson, a political scientist at Penn State University, said that the Pennsylvania budget impasse could end when enough people apply pressure on their lawmakers to find a solution. However, he added, those most negatively affected by the compounding shutdown consequences are marginalized people who “don’t have as much political sway.”
Dual shutdowns are creating a ‘perfect storm’ for aid groups and schools in Pennsylvania