A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass bills providing the funds needed to run the federal government, or when the president refuses to sign such bills into law.
The main reasons why this happens are:
- Budget disputesGovernment shutdowns often occur when there are disagreements among members of Congress, or between Congress and the president, over certain spending priorities, such as defense, health care, social programs or immigration policy.
- Political strategyGovernment shutdowns are sometimes used as a political strategy or bargaining chip to promote or oppose certain legislative measures. One party may use the threat of a government shutdown to gain leverage in budget negotiations.
- Debt ceiling debateAlthough the debt ceiling itself is separate from the budget process, there have been cases where discussions over raising the debt ceiling have led to government shutdowns due to failure to reach an agreement.
Current proposal
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer The Governor of New York announced on Thursday, September 19, that he would take steps that same day to advance a bipartisan government funding bill following approval by the Speaker of the House. Mike Johnson Louisiana Republicans failed to pass a partisan six-month funding bill related to voter registration reform.
“Later today, I will file a filibuster to stop Trump from shutting down the government if the Speaker of the House doesn’t work with us in a bipartisan, bicameral way. Both parties will work together over the next few days to figure out the best path forward to avoid shutting down the government,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
The House vote on the spending plan failed 202-220, with 14 Republicans joining nearly all Democrats in voting against it. The plan combined a six-month stopgap budget bill with the American Voter Status Protection Act, which would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote. Two House members abstained and three Democrats voted against it in support of the bill.
Johnson proposed the bill under pressure from President Trump and right-wing lawmakers, overriding opposition from Democrats, who noted that it is already illegal for foreigners to vote in U.S. federal elections and cited studies showing no evidence of widespread illegal voting. They also criticized the bill, saying it could discourage some Americans from voting by restricting access to documents such as passports and birth certificates.
President Trump emphasized his support for the SAVE Act, writing to Truth Social, “If Republicans do not fully understand the SAVE Act, they should not agree to a continuing resolution in any form.”
Senator Schumer and the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patty Murray Democratic lawmakers from Washington state issued a joint statement in early September, warning, “If Speaker Johnson leads House Republicans in an extremely partisan direction, the likelihood of a government shutdown will significantly increase and the American people will know that a shutdown is the responsibility of House Republicans.”
What impact will the shutdown have?
Most federal agencies will have to suspend non-essential operations, close national parks, furlough employees, and suspend services until a new funding agreement is reached. Essential services, such as national security, law enforcement, and emergency medical services, will continue to operate, but many government activities will be suspended.
During the furloughs, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed without pay, while essential workers will be required to work without pay until the shutdown is lifted.
A prolonged shutdown could also slow economic growth, impact stock markets, and create uncertainty in domestic and international markets.
When was the last government shutdown?
Government shutdowns are not uncommon in U.S. history. Just look at some recent shutdowns.
- 2018-2019The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted for 35 days, from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019. The shutdown was primarily caused by disagreements over funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
- 2018In early 2018, there was a short government shutdown from January 20 to January 22, due primarily to disagreements over immigration policy, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
- 2013The government shutdown, which lasted for 16 days from October 1 to October 17, was sparked by disputes over the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and budgetary concerns.
- 1995-1996A major government shutdown occurred from December 16, 1995 to January 6, 1996 due to disputes over Medicare, public health, and education funding.