What Is a Government Shutdown and Will It Affect You?
You may have heard a thing or two about the potential for a "government shutdown" but aren't exactly sure what it means—for the world, for the nation, for you. In a nutshell, it means that all non-essential government employees will no longer be working if the clock strikes midnight tonight and the Democrats and Republicans haven't come to an agreement on a budget deal. It sounds like a Capitol Hill Problem, yes, but if it goes into effect, it could potentially screw things up for a lot of people who plan to travel, receive health care, or want to file taxes early. Keep reading to learn what'll happen, and who will be affected most if the government really does shut down.
Why are Democrats and Republicans arguing?
Both parties would like to see the government stay open, but they want it to happen on their terms. Democrats are happy to pass a budget, so long as it includes funding for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, the extremely popular program that has allowed immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children to stay, study and work without the fear of deportation. In fact, Democrats were even willing to pass a budget that included funding for both DACA and President Donald Trump's border wall, but alas, Trump said he didn't like the plan.
Some Republicans are also upset at the idea of passing another short-term funding solution as they believe it will hurt the military.
"My Democratic colleagues' demand on illegal immigration at the behest of their far-left base have crowded out all other important business," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters. "I think the American people clearly would not expect us to act this way."
However, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer disagreed saying, "The leader is looking to deflect blame. But it just won't work. We all know what the problem is. It's complete disarray on the Republican side."
Has a government shutdown happened before?
Yes, many times. The last shutdown happened in 2013 under President Barack Obama and lasted for 16 days.
What will happen if the government shuts down?
All non-essential government personnel will be put on furlough, meaning they will not be paid, but not be fired either. These people include national park, national museum and national zoo staff members, people who issue passports, and those who issue small business loans, according to CNN. So, if you need an emergency passport, already have a trip planned to a national park, or are looking for assistance for your business, you may simply need to wait out the shutdown.
In a more dire situation, the National Institute of Health could be greatly impacted by a shutdown. In 2013, the shutdown meant that "Hundreds of patients were prevented from enrolling in clinical trials," according to an impact analysis by the Obama administration. This time, it could hinder the agency's ability to get news and information out about this year's deadly flu season.
The 2013 shutdown also caused almost $4 billion in tax refunds to be delayed, which could happen again now, and both the Food and Drug Administration to the Environmental Protection Agency had to cancel health and safety inspections. So, maybe don't eat at any new restaurants if the government shuts down.
For reference, during the 2013 shutdown, an estimated 850,000 people were put on furlough per day. They were, however, paid back once the shutdown ended.
Who will keep working?
Despite what Trump tweets, members of the military are still considered "essential" staff so they will not be put on leave. Civilian members of the military, however, will be sent home. The U.S. Postal Service will also continue to operate, so don't worry, you'll still get your mail. Oh, and in an ironic twist, while other civil servants won't be paid during the shutdown, members of Congress will, as they wrote it into law.
How much could this cost America?
According to PBS, during the last shutdown the United States economy lost a staggering $24 billion. Moreover, 120,000 private sector jobs were lost during that time as well.
How long could this shut down last if it happens?
That is really anyone's guess. It's up to how quickly Republicans, Democrats and the president himself can come to an agreement.
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