What happens if the govt shuts down?

During a government shutdown, the government stops all “non-essential” services, while essential services, such as the armed forces, border protection, air traffic controllers, and police and fire departments, will continue to operate.

Can the government get shut down?

Government shutdowns in the United States occur when there is a failure to pass funding legislation to finance the government for its next fiscal year or a temporary funding measure. Shutdowns can also occur within and disrupt state, territorial, and local levels of government.

Who is exempt from government shutdown?

Employees are “exempt” from furlough if they are not affected by a lapse in appropriations. This includes employees who are not funded by annually appropriated funds. Employees performing those functions will generally continue to be governed by the normal pay, leave, and other civil service rules. 4.

How many government shutdowns ever?

There have been 12 government shutdowns in the US since 1981, although ranging in duration. The longest occurred under Bill Clinton, lasting a total of 21 days from December 1995 to January 1996, when the then House speaker, Newt Gingrich , demanded sharp cuts to government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and welfare.

Why does the federal government shut down?

Government shutdowns in the United States occur when there is a failure to pass funding legislation to finance the government for its next fiscal year or a temporary funding measure.

Is the government shutting down?

Government shutdowns in the United States have occurred periodically since 1980, and are the result of failure to pass appropriations bills before the previous ones expire. Shutdowns of the type experienced by the United States are nearly impossible in other forms of government. The most recent shutdown happened in December 2018 .

When does the government shutdown?

A government shutdown is when non-essential discretionary federal programs close . It occurs when Congress fails to appropriate funds. In the normal budget process, Congress appropriates funds by September 30 for the following fiscal year.