Near Government Shutdown

A government shutdown occurs when the U.S. federal government fails to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to fund government operations, leading to a temporary cessation of non-essential services and the furlough of federal employees. The history of government shutdowns in the United States dates back to the 1980s, but they became more frequent in the 1990s and early 2000s. Major shutdowns include the 16-day closure in 2013 over the Affordable Care Act and the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019, the longest in U.S. history, primarily over border wall funding.

Just recently, we almost experienced another government shutdown. Congress has failed to enact any measures to fund the government, which must be approved by both the House and Senate and signed by the president. Without passing a stopgap measure to temporarily fund the federal agencies in both chambers of Congress, resolving any differences between the bills and sending the measures to President Biden, the government will shut down. However, at a last minute right before midnight of Saturday September 30 2023 (the deadline before declaring a government shutdown), President Biden signed a new bill which prevented this from happening.

You may be wondering, what does a government shutdown even mean? Government shutdowns have significant implications, disrupting various services, affecting federal workers’ pay, and causing economic uncertainties. They can lead to delayed payments, economic setbacks, and a decline in public trust in government institutions. The impact is felt across sectors, from national parks and immigration services to research programs and regulatory agencies, highlighting the broader consequences of political disagreements on the functioning of the federal government.

Overall, a government shutdown has serious consequences onto society and can cause many disruptions. Luckily this situation was averted; but if it wasn’t, our current situation would be much different.