After a six-week summer recess, lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday to urgently work on preventing a government shutdown, with just three weeks remaining until funding expires on September 30.
When the House left for its summer break on July 25, President Joe Biden had just exited the presidential race, Democrats were preparing to select Vice President Kamala Harris as their new nominee, and Republicans were strategizing to counter the younger candidate who appeared to revitalize their opposition.
Now, with significant disagreement over budget priorities, some Republican leaders, including former President Donald Trump, are advocating for a shutdown if their demands are not met, such as the inclusion of a GOP-led bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
Here’s everything you need to know about how close Congress is to a government shutdown, what it is, why it happens, and more.
What Is a Government Shutdown?
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass the necessary funding legislation for the federal government’s operations, or when the President refuses to sign such legislation into law.
Here are some of the main reasons why it happens:
- Budget Disputes: Shutdowns often occur when there is a disagreement between Congress members or between Congress and the President on specific spending priorities, such as defense, healthcare, social programs, or immigration policies.
- Political Strategy: Sometimes, shutdowns are used as a political strategy or bargaining chip to push for or against certain legislative measures. One party may use the threat of a shutdown to gain leverage in budget negotiations.
- Debt Ceiling Debates: Although the debt ceiling itself is separate from the budget process, debates over raising it have sometimes led to government shutdowns when an agreement could not be reached.
The Current Budget Proposal
In this case, lawmakers will need a stopgap bill to keep the government open past the election, as they are nowhere close to agreeing on a full-year funding measure.
Under pressure from Trump and right-wing members, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has proposed pairing a stopgap funding bill with the SAVE Act—a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Democrats have opposed the measure, pointing out that it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in U.S. federal elections and that independent studies show no evidence of widespread illegal voting. They also argued that the bill could discourage Americans from voting, as many lack easy access to passports or birth certificates.
Even if the bill passes the House, it is unlikely to succeed in the Democratic-led Senate.
“If Speaker Johnson drives House Republicans down this highly partisan path, the odds of a shutdown go way up, and Americans will know that the responsibility for a shutdown will be on the House Republicans’ hands,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), said in a joint statement on Friday following the bill’s release.
What Does the Shutdown Affect?
Most federal agencies must halt non-essential operations, close national parks, furlough employees, and suspend services until a new funding agreement is reached. Essential services—such as national security, law enforcement, and emergency medical care—continue to operate, but many government activities are paused.
During a furlough, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are placed on temporary leave without pay, while essential workers are required to work without pay until the shutdown is resolved.
A prolonged shutdown can also slow economic growth, impact the stock market, and create uncertainty in both domestic and international markets.
When Was the Last Government Shutdown?
Government shutdowns are not uncommon in U.S. history. Here’s a look at the most recent ones:
- 2018-2019: The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. This shutdown was primarily due to disagreements over funding for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
- 2018: Earlier in 2018, there was a brief shutdown from January 20 to January 22, mainly due to disagreements over immigration policy, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
- 2013: Lasting 16 days from October 1 to October 17, this shutdown was caused by a standoff over the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and budgetary concerns.
- 1995-1996: A significant shutdown lasted from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996, driven by disputes over Medicare, public health, and education funding.