The effects of the federal government’s 43-day shutdown rippled through the JR community, which rallied to help those affected by the loss of food benefits and government paychecks. Many JR students have reported that their parents’ temporary suspension of work due to the shutdown has put their families in a place of economic discomfort.
Senior Amanda Chau said her mother’s furlough from the Department of Defense had “negatively affected [her] family, been a huge transition for them, and the backpay threatened by Trump had caused financial stress.”
Another student, whose father works for the Architect of the Capitol, said the government shutdown “caused disruption within her family due to the lack of pay, and caused logistical issues within the family.”
Despite the struggles that many students’ families have faced, school officials said JR remains committed to creating a supportive learning environment.
Principal Sah Brown told The Beacon that “as educators, our mission doesn’t stop during a government shutdown.” Brown acknowledged that “uncertainty can place added stress on all our stakeholders and our focus remains on being a stable and supportive place for our students.”
The JR community mobilized to help students and families affected by the shutdown, which began on October 1 due to Congressional failure to pass a spending bill and ended November 12.
One particular issue was the loss of SNAP food benefits starting on November 1. In 2024, 19.7 percent of DC residents received SNAP benefits, the second highest percentage of the population receiving benefits in the country.
TThe JR Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) helped set up a food pantry in partnership with the school. ”We are aware of the impact [the shutdown and SNAP loss] has on our community,” PTSO President Shanza Qureshi-Mufti said.
The school also distributed information about food security in the area, including the Capital Area Food Bank and application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals. “To ensure students have access to nutritious meals, families affected by the shutdown may apply for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals,” Brown said. All of the resources have been included in the weekly JR newsletter emailed to families and can be found on the school’s website.
The PTSO also emphasized its continued support of student programming. Qureshi-Mufti said that students whose clubs may be struggling to raise money can request a PTSO grant. Already, the PTSO has received 35 grant requests—affecting more than 12,000 students – and has distributed roughly $22,000.
These grants “are all related to academics, classroom learning, student support, school culture, and student clubs,” Qureshi-Mufti said. She emphasized that “if you’re part of any student clubs and you’re looking to get some funding or if your club doesn’t have to support, you can definitely submit a grant request to us.”
Despite the shutdown ending, the path forward is uncertain. President Donald Trump recently threatened to withhold the back payment of federal salaries during the furlough period and to require people to reapply for SNAP benefits. •
