Last week, politicians and citizens alike were buzzing about the looming possibility of a federal government shutdown in the United States beginning September 30. Many Americans are unaware of the potential implications of a government shutdown. On September 30, President Joe Biden signed a stopgap bill to keep the government open until November 17. While this procedure is a step towards avoiding a shutdown, Americans are still left wondering what would cause a shutdown and the ramifications if the problems aren’t resolved by November 17.
Government shutdowns occur when the House of Representatives is unable to conclude an appropriate debt ceiling for the following year. Representatives are responsible for passing 12 debt bills annually, but if the bills are not passed by the adjournment of this year’s congressional session, the government “shuts down.” This year, Congress adjourned on September 30; without the bills outlining the government’s allotted spending, federal funds would have dried out, and Congress would not have enough money circulating to keep the government open.
Now former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy presented a stopgap bill to the House of Representatives Saturday. A stopgap bill is an extension that gaps the federal budget to draw out funding for a short period. The government shutdown was averted when President Biden signed the law Saturday evening. The extension struggled to pass because former Speaker McCarthy continuously lost the Democrat vote. The only funding stopped is Ukrainian aid and border security.
The main grievance with the bill is the halt of funding for Ukraine. In a statement, President Biden said, “I fully expect the speaker will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and the secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment.”
When the government shuts down, non-essential federal programs also close if they do not have enough money to operate stably. While many programs remain open, non-essential workers could be furloughed and sent on paid leave of absence. Many government employees who continue to work will not be paid during this time, resulting in an economically hostile environment for families across the nation. When workers are not paid, many stop showing up, causing delays in programs such as SNAP, TSA, WIC, and disaster relief. Some institutions, like national parks, decide to stay open during a shutdown on an individual basis.
There have been government shutdowns in the past, but only four have lasted more than one day. These occurred in 1995-1996, 2013, and 2018. During the 2018 shutdown, 850,000 out of 2.1 million government workers were furloughed. That shutdown lasted over 30 days.
Although the government is still open, the deadline for the House to release the budget has not been settled yet. Congress has six weeks to adjourn their debates before a government shutdown is out of the picture. Until the budget is finalized, this will continue to be an ongoing story.
