Unless attributed directly, all quotes are anonymous to respect the privacy of Falls Church families.
On Oct. 1, the federal government shut down due to political gridlock between Democratic and Republican funding bills. This shutdown marked the longest in history, surpassing the 2018 shutdown during President Trump’s first term. 670,000 employees were furloughed, and 730,000 continued to work without pay.
The shutdown had a ripple effect across the country, with significant flight delays at major airports because of air traffic control shortages and funding cuts from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 41.7 million people relied on SNAP benefits in the 2024 fiscal year.
SNAP, the largest food assistance program in the US, provides support to low-income families. However, beyond food assistance, each SNAP dollar generates around $1.54 in economic activity, circulating money back into local economies and providing support for small businesses.
Small local businesses are the foundation of Falls Church. For each business day the shutdown lasted, it is estimated that 320 small businesses nationwide were unable to access $170 million in SBA-backed commercial loans. The lack of funding, combined with lower consumer spending, placed an additional strain on Falls Church’s business economy.
As the government shutdown crossed the threshold into the longest in history, The Lasso reached out to city residents to gauge the impact on Meridian students and their families.
“Neighborhood restaurants like Harvey’s, Moby Dick, and Clare & Don’s have been inspiring—that is where I can see the community cares,” a city resident indicated.
For many FCCPS families, the shutdown’s most immediate impact was on household essentials, including meals for school-aged children. Families had to make adjustments seemingly overnight.
“I wish the school could have offered more free lunches to affected students,” one FCCPS parent expressed.
The free or reduced-price meals program eligibility is established based on household size and income. Typically, children who are members of households receiving SNAP benefits or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are eligible for free meals.
“Even if they didn’t directly ask, I told families that they could apply for free reduced lunch for their student because, while typically they wouldn’t qualify, with the income of different federal jobs at the time of the application of the shutdown, their income is zero,” Meridian Social Worker Samantha Daniels explained.
Additionally, students who are eligible for these meal support programs automatically have other fees waived, such as field trips or sports participation fees. This allows families to reduce their requests for financial assistance. However, many community members still felt hesitant or uncomfortable asking for support.
“Meridian High School has helped if I directly contacted them and asked them to waive a fee, but the culture of asking for money did not change,” another parent explained.
While the costs of meals were reduced for many, some fees still remained in place.
“Games to watch my child play were still charging fees. I felt the school could have done more,” a parent indicated.
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has guidelines ensuring that ticket fees must be charged for playoff games. Yet, Meridian can reduce or waive the price of regular season game tickets.
“If there is one thing Meridian HS could have done differently during a government shutdown, it could have been to look at, maybe we don’t charge families for football tickets,” Principal Peter Laub noted. “I suppose that was a step that we could have taken to help our students.”
Families unfamiliar with support programs had to navigate these systems for the first time.
“Some people who reached out for support were not people that I typically would work with,” Daniels highlighted.
Many families faced financial instability for the first time. Households living paycheck-to-paycheck suddenly lost the income they relied on for basic needs, while those with savings felt immense pressure as they relied on emergency funds without knowing the extent to which they would need to use them.
In addition to economic pressure, the shutdown imposed an emotional burden on families.
“The uncertainty of when it will end is emotionally draining,” one resident noted.
Roughly 16% of Falls Church residents are federal government employees. With the help of the Falls Church Education Foundation, Meridian provided resources and support to those affected by the shutdown. Yet there was an expressed desire for more transparency and communication clarity.
Ultimately, the shutdown highlighted the need for a community where asking for help is destigmatized, especially when it comes to the needs of children who are most vulnerable.
“School is just like a microcosm of a larger society where poverty or financial need is really stigmatized,” Daniels said.
