Government Shutdown Deadline Nears: What You Need to Know
The specter of a government shutdown is once again looming as Congress races against the clock to prevent crucial services from being disrupted and federal workers from going unpaid.
Unless new funding legislation is approved, a partial government shutdown could commence at midnight on Friday, followed by a larger shutdown just one week later.
A government shutdown occurs when the federal government is unable to spend money due to a lack of appropriated funds authorized by Congress. At stake this time is the funding legislation for several key agencies, which is set to expire at 12:01 am on Saturday.
The impending shutdown would impact approximately 20 percent of the federal government, including agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Not all agencies would cease operations entirely, but certain activities and services considered essential for public safety and economic stability would be affected.
For instance, air traffic controllers would continue working without pay, as would food safety inspectors. Veterans benefits, including healthcare and pensions, would also continue during a government shutdown.
However, the consequences extend beyond federal workers.
Programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) could face interruptions if the shutdown persists.
Rental assistance recipients may experience benefit reductions or even the threat of eviction.
The government shutdown is scheduled to commence on March 2 if new funding legislation is not passed on time.
Additionally, funding for the remaining 80 percent of the federal government, which encompasses the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State, will expire on March 8, leading to a larger, partial shutdown.
The current situation traces its origins back to an agreement between President Biden and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In a bid to control federal discretionary spending, which began on October 1, 2023, McCarthy faced opposition from far-right Republicans who desired deeper spending cuts.
As negotiations faltered, a stopgap funding bill called a continuing resolution (CR) was passed with Democratic support, resulting in McCarthy's ousting. However, his successor, Rep. Mike Johnson, has also struggled to secure spending cuts and conservative policy provisions, setting the stage for the current impasse.
As the deadline approaches, Members of Congress are left with a few options to avert the shutdown's impact.
They can pass funding bills swiftly, opt for another continuing resolution to extend funding temporarily, adopt a very short-term CR to allow for additional negotiations, or, in an extreme scenario, temporarily shut down the government, providing more time for a resolution.
In conclusion, the specter of a government shutdown looms large, with potential consequences for crucial federal services and the livelihoods of federal workers. As the clock ticks, the onus is on Congress to find a resolution and prevent a potentially damaging outcome.
