by Brody Dixon

Just after midnight on October 1st, the federal government officially shut down. Since then, it has remained shut down for over five weeks*. By November 5th, the shutdown became the longest in US history spanning 37 days. The last government shutdown was in 2019 which lasted for 34 days, holding the previous record. The modern budgeting practice was established in 1976. Since that date, the government has shut down 10 times, with the shortest shutdown only lasting one day.

Each year, Congress is responsible for passing 12 appropriation bills. Appropriation bills are proposed laws that allow the expenditure of government funds for national defense, homeland security, education and payments of certain subsidies. However, if those bills are not passed by September 30th, a shutdown begins. Failure to pass the appropriation bills are often due to disagreements among the political parties in Congress and the Executive Branch concerning spending priorities.  Essential employees are also negatively impacted by a shutdown.

When a shutdown occurs, there are certain government services and functions that are halted. National parks and museums are closed during this time, and passport and visa processing slows. Additionally, federal research projects are halted as well. Non-essential federal employees and businesses reliant on government services are most affected by the shutdown. Non essential federal employees include hairdressers, waitstaff, landscapers, caterers and museum workers. 

During a shutdown, certain employees are temporarily laid off and receive back pay when it ends. Services vital to national security and overall public safety continue, but are negatively impacted. Essential federal programs such as social security medicare benefits continue to operate.

Prolonged shutdowns such as this one often shift public opinion. Growing concern pressures both parties to return to the negotiating table and find common ground. The primary debate is over the extension of healthcare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Democrats want a permanent extension of those subsidies, while Republicans favor a short term bill to address them. Both parties are set to continue meeting in an attempt to settle the dispute and end the shutdown. 

*UPDATE: As of the publication of this article, the government is currently shut down; however, there is a vote to begin to restart the government in the Senate.