--- title: "How the Government Shutdown Affects Women's Health" date: 2013-10-02T18:15:23-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/how-the-government-shutdown-affects-womens-health" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# How the Government Shutdown Affects Women's Health By Rachel Walden • October 2, 2013 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. The federal government shutdown is expected to have wide-ranging consequences on the health of women and their families. Before we get to the bad news, an important reminder: Enrollment for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act [is \*not\* being blocked](http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/republicans-shut-down-the-government-but-they-cant-stop-obamacare-20131001 "Republicans Shut Down the Government, But They Can't Stop Obamacare") by the shutdown. Go to [healthcare.gov](https://www.healthcare.gov/) to learn more about your options and to enroll. If you need additional information, [Raising Women's Voices](http://www.raisingwomensvoices.net/how-to-enroll/) and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health both have resources that explain more about healthcare benefits for women under the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare (yes, as Jimmy Kimmel demonstrated, they're [one and the same](http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-jimmy-kimmel-obamacare-affordable-care-act-20131001,0,1174482.story "Jimmy Kimmel: Do you prefer Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act? Hilarity Ensues")). Now, here are the negative consequences: - The WIC program that provides nutrition for women, infants, and children will not be able to take on new people and may [run out of money to provide food assistance](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/wic-shutting-down_n_4023284.html?1380642432 "WIC Programs Shutting Down As Federal Government Comes To Halt"). - Likewise, the Administration for Community Living will [not be able](http://www.hhs.gov/budget/fy2014/fy2014contingency_staffing_plan-rev2.pdf "HHS shutdown contingency plan") to fund programs in Senior Nutrition, Native American Nutrition and Supportive Services, Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect, and Protection and Advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities. - Federal websites that provide health information to consumers, like [womenshealth.gov](http://womenshealth.gov/ "Womenshealth.gov, from the Office on Women's Health") and [MedlinePlus](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ "MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine"), are not being updated during the shutdown. The longer the shutdown continues, the more likely it is that these sites will have information that is no longer current. - Researchers trying to answer questions about women's health are also affected, meaning important research databases on medical topics may not be [fully updated](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed "PubMed is being updated to") or updated at all. - Clinical trials from the National Institutes of Health [will not be able to accept new patients](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/10/the-saddest-paragraph-youll-read-about-the-government-shutdown-today/280174/ "The Saddest Paragraph You'll Read About the Government Shutdown Today"), possibly delaying important new discoveries in health. - The FDA will be [unable to support](http://www.hhs.gov/budget/fy2014/fy2014contingency_staffing_plan-rev2.pdf "HHS shutdown contingency plan") the majority of its food safety, nutrition, and cosmetics reviews. While the agency is expected to continue managing emergencies and high-risk situations, it will not have the resources to deal with some inspections and less urgent product alerts. - In addition, those who may have [delays in their paychecks and benefits](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/01/the-nine-most-painful-consequences-of-a-government-shutdown/ "The nine most painful impacts of a government shutdown") -- [and other services](http://www.policymic.com/articles/65781/what-a-republican-shutdown-means-for-millions-of-women-and-children "What a Republican Shutdown Means For Millions of Women and Children") -- are hit directly, potentially making it harder for them to attend to their own health and that of their families. Republicans tried to make restrictions on women's preventive health care-- including contraception coverage -- [a condition](https://www.aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/house-takes-aim-womens-health-shutdown-fight "House Takes Aim at Women's Health in Shutdown Fight") of not shutting down the government. As [Cecile Richards writes](http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/01/opinion/richards-congress-womens-coverage/ "Cecile Richards: In shutdown, an attack on women's health"), "The country wants Congress to focus on jobs and the economy, not on pushing an extreme agenda against women's access to health care." And we really don't want to bargain away our health. --- #### 0 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Healthcare System](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/healthcare-system) - [Politics](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/politics) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)