A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass budget bills to keep federal agencies funded. This pause in paychecks affects many of the nation’s most important programs and services, from Social Security benefits to the Post Office to national parks.
While some programs that are mandatory, like Medicare and Medicaid, will continue to operate during a shutdown, most others will shut down entirely. Typically, some employees will be sent home without pay (a “furlough”) while other employees may choose to stay on the job for personal or professional reasons. Air traffic controllers, for example, are required to remain on the job because their work is considered essential for the safety of the traveling public.
However, the last shutdown ended in part because air traffic controllers began to call in sick en masse. This could happen again if the stalemate continues into the weekend.
The President and congressional Republicans have offered to support a short-term funding measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), that would provide enough time for both parties to negotiate a longer-term agreement. Unfortunately, Democrats are refusing to accept this offer in order to force their extreme policy demands, such as taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens and reversal of the GOP tax cut bill passed earlier this year.
A prolonged shutdown could also hurt the nation’s economic growth by deterring businesses from investing in new projects. In addition, it can hurt recruitment and retention of skilled workers in the federal workforce.