The U.S. Government shutdown began on Saturday December 22, 2018 and has become the longest shutdown in United States history. Approximately 800,000 government employees have been affected by this shutdown and now some of our own classmates are as well.

One senior, who wishes to remain anonymous, had to rethink their final semester because of how the shutdown has affected an internship opportunity.

“I applied in November for an internship with a law enforcement agency at the federal level for a 40 hour a week unpaid internship position,” the student says.

At first, one might think that an intern would be more than welcome during a government shutdown since they wouldn’t be paid. Unfortunately for this student the process between his interview and his start date involved many steps, some of which were more affected by the shutdown than others.

“Although the government shutdown has limited a number of agencies, the one I applied for was deemed to be essential to national security and has thus remained open but agents work without pay at the moment,” the student explains. “The shutdown has had a greater effect on the process of my background investigation which from my understanding is handled by an outside agency.”

Thankfully because of the agency this student chose for an internship there is still hope that their internship will start soon.

“Although this has affected the process, my application continues to be progressed through the stages each day and I am cautiously optimistic that this investigation will be completed in time for me to begin my internship. In addition, it is my understanding that due to the agencies status remaining open during the shutdown, I will start the internship upon the conditional agreement we set in place pending my successful cleared background investigation,” the student says. “In short, the shutdown has slowed the process but not stopped it completely.”

However, the student still has to have a backup plan in case the internship falls through.

They have been working with the school in case he needs to make up the eight credits this internship is supposed to account for.

“The school, especially the Criminal Justice department, as well as the agency itself have been very flexible working with me during this process,” the student explains.

“As a precaution per department policy, students are instructed to register for 4 regular classes and given a two week period (when add drop ends) to drop these courses and pick up the internship. This is done due to the required hours needed to fulfill the internship.”

Although hopeful to fulfill the internship, the student is optimistic about whatever happens in the future.

“If I am unable to participate in this internship it would obviously affect the experience that I would have received, however I am optimistic about my future career and have expanded my horizons via other opportunities both in and outside the school,” the student states.