Background and Relevance of the Situation
The United States is facing a government shutdown, also known as an administrative closure, following the failure of a final vote in the Senate to prevent budgetary paralysis. This situation leaves hundreds of thousands of public servants without pay, affecting numerous federal services.
Causes and Negotiations
Despite intense negotiations in Congress, Democrats and Republicans could not agree on funding the government beyond midnight on October 1, marking the start of the fiscal year. A Senate vote of 55 to 45 fell short of the required 60 votes needed to pass legislation for temporary funding, which had already been approved by the House of Representatives.
President’s Statements
During a press briefing in the Oval Office, the President stated, “They will shut it down, not us. We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible… like firing a large number of people or cutting things they like.” He was referring to the Democrats.
Impact on Public Employees
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 750,000 federal employees will face partial unemployment, resulting in a loss of income amounting to $400 million. This situation is highly unpopular in the U.S., and both Democrats and Republicans strive to avoid such shutdowns, sometimes until the last minute.
With midterm elections in November 2026 looming, which will determine the presidential majority in Congress, avoiding a shutdown becomes even more critical.
Suspension of Non-Essential Works
Federal agencies have published detailed plans outlining the closure of offices dedicated to scientific research, customer service, and other non-essential activities. Tens of thousands of workers will be sent home without pay. However, military personnel, border patrol agents, and others performing essential tasks will continue working but without immediate payment until Congress resolves the impasse.
The last government shutdown occurred in 2018 and 2019 during Trump’s first term, due to a dispute over immigration. The CBO, a nonpartisan entity, reported that this previous shutdown cost the U.S. economy $3 billion (0.02% of GDP). Now, the issue revolves around $1.7 trillion that fund agency operations, roughly a quarter of the total government budget of $7 trillion.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is a government shutdown? A government shutdown, or administrative closure, occurs when Congress fails to pass legislation funding federal agencies, leading to the temporary suspension of non-essential services and partial unemployment for federal employees.
- Who is affected by the shutdown? Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will face partial unemployment, and many non-essential services provided by federal agencies will be suspended.
- What are essential services during a shutdown? Essential services, such as those provided by the military and border patrol, will continue during a shutdown. However, employees in these areas may not receive immediate pay until the budget dispute is resolved.
- Why are shutdowns unpopular? Shutdowns are widely disliked due to their negative impact on public services, federal employees, and the broader economy.
- What is at stake in this shutdown? At issue is $1.7 trillion that fund federal agency operations, representing about a quarter of the total U.S. government budget.
