The ongoing US federal government shutdown is creating a severe crisis for military families and local businesses surrounding Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, with food pantries reporting unprecedented demand and restaurants experiencing dramatic customer declines.
Food Pantries Overwhelmed as Demand Doubles
Jane Doorley and her husband Bill, who help run the Fairborn Fish Food Pantry located just half a mile from the air force base, describe scenes of desperation. Their daily visitor numbers have surged from 250 families per week in September to an anticipated 500 families this week, with approximately 300 children among those seeking assistance.
"We're seeing this heightened anxiety. You can just feel it when people come," Doorley explains. "Everybody wants to come at the beginning of the day, for fear that the food is going to run out."
The pantry's parking lot became so overwhelmed on 28 October that arriving vehicles couldn't access available spaces due to the volume of cars belonging to people seeking food assistance.
Economic Ripple Effect Across the Region
Wright-Patterson represents the largest single-site employer in Ohio with 38,000 workers, generating nearly $16 billion annually for the local economy and supporting an additional 40,000 indirect jobs. The base has long served as an economic lifeline for a region that never fully recovered from the late 20th-century manufacturing collapse.
Now, the shutdown has placed approximately 8,100 civilian workers at the Air Force Material Command on furlough, while tens of thousands of military personnel continue working without pay.
Local businesses are feeling the immediate impact. Tik Taew of Tik's Thai Express, a restaurant operating near the base for over 15 years, reports: "We've really lost most of our customers because of the government shutdown. It used to be really busy but now it's empty. Weekday mornings are usually our busiest time, but right now, we're only getting five to six customers."
Broader Consequences and Political Standoff
The crisis extends beyond immediate economic concerns. The National Museum of the US Air Force, adjacent to the base and typically attracting more than 66,000 monthly visitors, has been closed since 1 October, depriving local hotels and restaurants of millions in revenue.
Meanwhile, political negotiations remain deadlocked. Democrats refuse to sign a funding deal unless subsidies for the Affordable Care Act are renewed through 2026, a measure the White House opposes. Although a last-minute measure ensured military service members received payment on 1 November, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that troops may not be paid on 15 November if no deal is reached.
Compounding the problem, the Trump administration removed $117 million in federal support from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program in January, affecting thousands of pantries nationwide including Fairborn Fish Food Pantry. "That's on a pause, probably forever," says Doorley. "We now rely entirely on donations."
With meat being the most sought-after commodity, Doorley notes the current situation is unsustainable: "We go and buy meat for 500 families a week. That is not sustainable for us." She urges politicians in Washington DC to find common ground, emphasizing that "it's time for the two sides to recognize that we are all Americans and we have people who are hungry and need help."
