A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass the funding bills needed to keep government agencies operating. By law, a funding gap that lasts more than a few hours requires that federal employees be sent home without pay (furloughed). This includes federal workers in vital fields such as national security, aviation safety, food inspections, and climate research. A lapse in funding also stops work on important projects such as cybersecurity, defense logistics, and public health.
Federal agencies are required to tap their reserves or find alternative sources of funds to continue normal operations during a shutdown, but these sources will ultimately run dry if the shutdown continues for too long. Aside from the lingering effects on workers and their families, this will create additional stress on vulnerable citizens and disrupt essential services.
AFGE’s Legislative Director Daniel Horowitz noted that the quickest way to end the shutdown is for the Senate to pass the same bill the House approved earlier this year, which would fund the government through November 21. He added that if a clean continuing resolution does not pass, the only other option is to “furlough people” until Congress can reach an agreement on a longer-term funding solution.
While the impact of a shutdown reaches across party lines, Latinos for America First understands that this crisis hits home for many American families who depend on federal programs like Low Income Home Energy Assistance and Head Start to afford basic needs, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to help feed their children. These programs, along with other critical federal programs that support working families, are at risk of running out of money if the shutdown persists.