“Maintaining our homes and vehicles for winter weather is essential for safe mountain living. Canyon Cares can help anyone who meets our financial aid criteria with expenses related to winter preparation.””

Lindy Lewis

NEDERLAND - The United States Government has been shut down since October 1, 2025—22 days—beating the Winter 1995/1996 shutdown under President Bill Clinton, but still a week and a half behind the 35-day record from Winter 2018/2019, under President Donald J. Trump. 

The 1995/1996 shutdown occurred when President Clinton vetoed budgets proposed by the Republican Party after Republicans had gained control of both House and Senate after the 1994 midterm elections.

Republicans were pushing their Contract With America, a mandate which included cuts to welfare and to health care. 

The total 21-day shutdown cost the country $1.4 billion, and approval for Republicans dropped from 52% to 38%. 

The 2018/2019 shutdown happened when the Democratic Party blocked a funding bill which included a $5.7 billion allocation for President Trump’s Border Wall. The 35-day shutdown cost the U.S. economy $11 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 

As a government shutdown is typically a result of Congress failing to pass funding legislation, the current shutdown is due to another failure to pass another budget proposal. This particular appropriations bill, released September 16, involved an increase to health insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act participants.

Democrats countered with a plan that involved an increase of $1 trillion in health care spending. Neither plan could pass the Senate throughout September, with President Trump choosing to respond to negotiations with AI-generated memes mocking Democratic leaders. 

When, on September 30, the Republican budget plan failed to overcome a 60-vote filibuster, the Office of Management and Budget immediately began signaling to government agencies to begin their shutdown procedures.  

The shutdown has greatly affected federal workers across the country, especially those with agencies such as the National Park Service, the National Institutes of Health, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Education Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Most Americans, however, have felt the effects of the shutdown through delays at the airport. According to a recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos, only one out of every five Americans claims to be financially impacted by the shutdown.

The poll also indicates that, though 50% of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown, that is only a 3% difference over the percentage of Americans who blame Democrats.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s overall approval rating has increased by 2%—to a total of 42%—since the shutdown began. 

This poll was released before the news that government food assistance benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP—“food stamps”), would no longer be federally funded starting November 1. 

Boulder County shared that, though they do not have any information as to how long SNAP recipients will be affected, new applicants should still apply, as County staff will continue to process new applications so that those who qualify can receive benefits once the program resumes regular operations. 

The County warns that, even when the shutdown is lifted, there may be some delays before SNAP recipients will continue to receive their benefits. It was also stated that additional updates on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“welfare”), and on other programs like Housing Choice Vouchers, and Women, Infants, and Children, will be provided when more information is available. 

Boulder County, as well as Boulder Valley School District, are reporting that 298,000 Colorado families will lose some or all of their SNAP benefits. 61,000 Colorado families will lose at least $25 per month in food assistance; and 49,000 Colorado families with children will see $49 per month cut in their benefits on average.

Children will suddenly become ineligible for free school meals as their families lose their SNAP benefits, and fewer schools will be able to qualify for free meal programs for their students, such as the Community Eligibility Provision and Summer EBT programs.

BVSD itself will face further challenges as much needed funding from the Local Food Program and Local Food for Schools is due to be severely cut. In 2025, those two sources provided for more than half a million dollars in food purchasing funding. The district spends up to $1.2 million a year on food from local farmers and producers.    

While programs like Social Security, Medicare, Health First Colorado, and Child Health Plan Plus are not impacted by the shutdown, the County urges those community members who receive payments from these organizations to expect delays. 

Though open enrollment for health coverage through Connect for Health Colorado and the Boulder County Enrollment Center will still run from November 1 to January 15, 2026, the County reports that there will be several changes to what financial assistance will be available for health coverage in 2026. 

Health insurance premiums are expected to increase, and Cost-Sharing Reductions are being reduced back to low federal levels. However, a new state program, Colorado Premium Assistance, will provide $80 per month in premium discounts for the first household member and $29 for each additional member for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.

OmniSalud, which provides undocumented Coloradans with assistance in enrolling in affordable health insurance plans, will continue with its mission throughout the shutdown and subsequent health care crisis. And the County will be providing Health Coverage Guides, as well as “free, confidential help with the enrollment process.”

To begin the enrollment process, see the end of this article.

As this most recent government shutdown only serves to highlight and exacerbate an already tumultuous financial situation, there are local organizations that exist as a safety net for those in the community who rely on Nederland’s Health and Human Services to get them through tough times, especially in the winter. 

Peak Abundance the home of the Nederland Food Pantry and Clothing Closet at 196 West 1st Street, has a ton of resources for those in need, as well as the ability to link community members with the Emergency Family Assistance Association.

Lindy Lewis, a Board member with the local resource assistance organization Canyon Cares, recently wrote to The Mountain-Ear to promote their services as winter approaches and as the Town reels from the recent Caribou Village Shopping Center fire. 

“Maintaining our homes and vehicles for winter weather is essential for safe mountain living,” Lewis wrote. “Canyon Cares can help anyone who meets our financial aid criteria with expenses related to winter preparation.”

Lewis listed how Canyon Cares can assist some community members with rent or mortgage payments, medical and utilities bills, well-pump or boiler repair, and many other living expenses. Canyon Cares can also connect people with various non-profit organizations in the Peak to Peak region and other resources, such as the federally funded Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program. 

Applications for LEAP, for those families, seniors and individuals looking for assistance on their winter home heating costs, will be accepted starting November 1.

To access any of these supports, see the following:

Health coverage: boco.org/HealthCoverage, or email HealthCoverage@bouldercounty.gov, or leave a message at 303-441-4530.

Peak Abundance: https://www.nederlandfoodpantry.org.

Emergency Family Assistance Association: https://www.efaa.org.

Canyon Cares: https://canyoncares.org.

Colorado LEAP: https://cdhs.colorado.gov/leap.