For millions of people, the world was put on pause when, on October 1, 2025, the federal government shut down, halting the payment of essential government workers and furloughing the jobs of nonessential workers.
The shutdown was a result of Congress’s inability to agree on a bill funding government services, and there seems to be no end in sight as both parties make no move to change their standpoint.
The shutdown has since resulted in financial hardships for millions of government workers, including federal contractors, air traffic controllers, military personnel, and border patrol agents, etc., who are not receiving their pay.
In addition to the government shutdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has gained national attention as the current administration is pushing the deportation of immigrants who have come into the country illegally.
Their methods, however, in achieving this goal have proved to be violent and abusive, as arrests and searches have been made with no due process.
The actions of those in power in D.C. and of ICE officers in bulletproof vests are being felt here and now by the students and families of Loretto.
Impact of government shutdown
To further grasp the impact of these actions on the Loretto community, a Google poll addressing these issues was sent to all classifications of grade level and received 18 responses.
The poll asked students if they or someone they knew had been personally affected by the government shutdown or the actions of ICE personnel, in addition to asking the students their opinion on how ICE has been handling the immigration issue.
Out of the 18 responses, ten students replied stating that they had been affected by the government shutdown, making up 55.6% of all responses.
From mothers and fathers not receiving pay to grandparents deprived of food stamps, the impact of the government shutdown is palpable and real in the halls of Loretto Academy.
On the impact of the shutdown on their family, one anonymous student said, “Many patients of my mother have been left without a salary and no way to pay for medical bills or house bills.”
Impact of federal officers
The poll also asked students to consider the impact of the actions of ICE on their lives, and out of the 18 responses, four students responded stating that they have been negatively affected, producing 22.2% of all responses.
One response about their experience with ICE said, “My mom’s uncle, who lives in California, was forced to move back to Mexico with his children, who don’t know any Spanish.”
The poll also asked students to state their opinion on how ICE has been handling the immigration crisis, and out of 15 responses, 13 responded with a negative opinion of ICE’s tactics.
One responder said, “ICE is a way in which the government has abused its power… It’s taking over our freedom in a country of stolen land where freedom is our main priority.”
What can be learned
The results of this poll serve as a testimony to the fact that politics are not distant issues: they affect the Loretto community in ways deeply felt.
The results display how the actions of those in power in Washington, D.C., extend all across the country and into our beloved school and city.
In a time of uncertainty where violence, injustice, and isolation are the new normal, the Loretto Community stands as a pillar of strength to support all of its students, no matter what their background may be.
UPDATE- November 12, 2025
After 43 long days awaiting the end of the dreadful shutdown, good news finally came on November 12, 2025, from the House.
The House of Representatives voted to pass the legislation, and President Trump signed a bill to reopen the government through January 30, 2026.
The vote was 60-40, with eight Democrats voting with Republicans to end the shutdown.
To address democratic concerns about rising healthcare prices, the bill promised a vote on the extension of the Affordable Care Act expiring at the end of 2025, while not exclusively including the set renewal of Obamacare.
Government workers can now return to work and receive pay, while SNAP benefits, once at risk of being defunded, are now receiving their funds and can provide food for the public once more.
While January 2026 is still a question, the reopening of the government after the longest shutdown in history has provided relief to families across the country as they can now return to their daily routine.
