Americans ‘Hardly Notice’ Loss of Non-Essential Government Services During Shutdown

Americans across the country reported little disruption to their daily lives as the federal government’s shutdown stretched on.

According to a new survey from the Washington Wick Institute of Research and Statistics, 88 percent of respondents said they hardly noticed the absence of non-essential government services, with many suggesting that the country seemed to function more smoothly without them.

“I woke up, went to work, picked up my kids from school, and bought groceries,” said Mark Jensen, a small business owner in Ohio.

“If this is what a shutdown feels like, maybe we should keep it going and see what else we don’t need.”

The poll revealed that most Americans struggled to identify what government services had actually stopped, raising questions about the necessity of funding entire departments.

Federal agencies labeled as “non-essential” during shutdowns typically include areas such as grant-making offices, diversity training programs, and regulatory units that many businesses say hinder productivity.

“It’s amazing how much freer everything feels,” said Emily Ruiz, a nurse from Texas. “It makes you wonder if these offices exist just to justify their own budgets rather than to serve the people.”

The findings have sparked renewed debate over whether taxpayer dollars are being squandered on bureaucratic overhead.

While essential services such as Social Security checks, border security, and military operations continue without interruption, the pause on less visible agencies has left millions of Americans questioning why these programs are funded at all.

A growing number of taxpayers now support the idea of permanently defunding non-essential programs and returning the money to citizens.

According to the survey, the majority would prefer a smaller, leaner government over what they view as bloated agencies that operate without accountability.

“Every paycheck I lose more to Washington, and for what? So some committee can sit around writing reports no one reads?” said John Wallace, a truck driver from Kentucky.

“Let’s call this shutdown a trial run and see if America runs better without the dead weight.”

---

Do you know somebody who has been personally injured by satire and comedy? Show your support for the principles of free speech and stand with Freedom Writers by signing our petition today!

---