Utah’s nonprofits meet real needs in real time. They show up in emergencies, providing disaster relief, housing, and crisis support. They also sustain daily life for thousands of Utahns: caring for children, supporting seniors and veterans, offering job training, and ensuring families have food and shelter. 

A federal government shutdown jeopardizes that lifeline, straining nonprofits and leaving communities without the resources they count on. 

A shutdown occurs when Congress fails to enact legislation to keep the government funded. Federal agencies must stop all non-essential functions until Congress acts, leaving “non-essential” employees unable to process payments, renew contracts, or provide support. Those delays cascade quickly into Utah neighborhoods. 

How a Shutdown Hurts Utah Communities 

A government shutdown doesn’t just stall agencies in Washington, D.C., it also hits Utah neighborhoods, disrupting lives and eroding community stability. Nonprofits have woven themselves into the fabric of daily life so completely that their support is often invisible to many Utahns. But when funding stops, the threads begin to fray.  

Programs are scaled back, organizations are stretched to the breaking point, and some may even be forced to close. And when that happens, the loss will be noticed in families without childcare, veterans without housing, and neighbors without food or medical care. The tear in our social fabric will be impossible not to notice, and difficult to repair. 

• Families face gaps in support. When federal payments are delayed, nonprofits are left without resources to sustain programs. That means fewer meals at food pantries, cutbacks in childcare slots, and reduced afterschool programs. Gina Cornia, Executive Director of Utahns Against Hunger, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to increase food access in Utah, says, “The first families who are going to be hit with impacts are low-income families who rely on programs like W.I.C. and SNAP to feed themselves and their families. Utahns Against Hunger urges Utah's congressional delegation to negotiate in good faith to end the government shutdown.” 

• People in crisis lose lifelines. Survivors of domestic violence, veterans seeking housing, and refugees starting new lives cannot wait while contracts sit unsigned. For some, the choice is homelessness, unsafe housing, or going without healthcare. 

• Communities lose stability. Affordable housing projects, rural health clinics, and community centers depend on federal funding. When projects stall, costs climb and families wait longer for the services they need. 

• Partnerships break down. Nonprofits are essential partners in carrying out federal programs. Shutdowns weaken those partnerships and leave fewer Utahns reached by vital services. 

• Needs grow while resources shrink. As federal programs pause, demand surges. From longer lines at food pantries in Ogden to overfilled clinics in San Juan County, nonprofits are asked to do more with less. 

“When the federal government shuts down, Utah nonprofits are forced to double down. But goodwill and grit can’t replace delayed funding or stalled contracts. Every day the shutdown drags on, Utah families lose meals at the table, housing assistance slows, and rural clinics cut back. In a state built on strong families, resilient communities, and neighbors helping neighbors, we know the cost of these political stalemates isn’t measured in numbers. It’s measured in lives disrupted,” says Jill Bennett, CEO of Utah Nonprofits Association. 

The longer a shutdown lasts, the more severe the consequences are for Utah families and communities. Utah Nonprofits Association (UNA) calls on Congress and the White House to act swiftly to end the shutdown and restore funding streams to nonprofits that provide essential services across the state.