What is a Government Shutdown?
A government shutdown is when Congress fails to pass appropriation bills, which fund government-related operations. This results in the temporary closure and furlough of non-essential employees; in contrast, essential jobs, such as public safety, law enforcement, and national security, are maintained. According to Christopher DeRose, an AP Government and Geography teacher at Damascus High School, a government shutdown is “when the government is essentially not in office.”
What does this mean for people who work in government-associated jobs?
In the case of the people who work in the government, they are not considered essential employees; they are required to work in public service without immediate pay, while others are furloughed until the government comes back. Finally, when the government comes back, they will get paid.
What does this mean for people who are not in the government?
People who are not in the government are not greatly impacted; they may experience disruptions in federal services. People may see slowed-down federal loan programs, delays in financial aid processes (like the FAFSA), and indirect economic consequences for businesses, especially in jobs like tourism. They may also see an impact on aircraft controllers; lots of them are not coming to work because they’re not getting paid. This could mean flights could be cancelled/delayed.
Is there a time limit for a government shutdown?
There is no time limit for a government shutdown; the longest time the government has been shut down was 35 days in 2018-2019, also during the Trump administration. The government is close to beating that record as they are only four days from it. A shutdown lasts until Congress and the President sign appropriations bills to fund government operations.
Conclusion
We don’t know how much time until the government is back in office. Many people are patiently anticipating a return to normal, as the ongoing situation has begun to affect their daily lives and routines significantly. The disturbances have been shown to increase stress and tension, initiating hope that things will improve in the future.
