The US government has official shut down after the Senate blocked a Republican-led bill that aimed to extend funding through November 21. The shutdown came into effect at 9:30 am IST. US President Donald Trump had earlier said that a shutdown is “probably likely,” blaming Democrats for the possible funding gap. Republicans would need at least seven Senate Democrats to agree in order to pass a spending bill.
Each government shutdown is different, but services that are vital for protecting lives and property are usually considered essential and continue to operate. In past shutdowns, immigration hearings were canceled, and federal loans for homebuyers and small businesses were delayed, among other effects.
Here we answer all your looming questions regarding the shutdown:
Millions could lose their paychecks
Nearly 4 million federal workers, including military members, could stop receiving their pay, a report by ABC News said. Hundreds of thousands of them, such as airport security staff, air traffic controllers, and certain military personnel, will still have to report to work because they are considered essential. ICE agents would also keep working without pay. National parks and the Smithsonian museums are likely to shut their doors within days.
Around 2 million active-duty troops could be asked to serve without pay, along with National Guard members deployed by Trump to US cities.
Federal contractors, including hourly workers like cleaners and security guards, won’t have to work during the shutdown. But unlike federal employees, they are not guaranteed back pay later. Meanwhile, members of Congress would continue to receive their $174,000 annual salaries without interruption.
Payments for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would still go out, but there might be delays. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would not be able to fully inspect food products like meat, milk, and eggs to ensure safety.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not yet released new figures on how many workers could lose pay or be furloughed in a shutdown. However, OMB Director Russ Vought has warned of possible mass layoffs, known as Reductions in Force (RIFs), the abc News report added. Democrats say this is a pressure tactic that goes beyond what has happened in previous shutdowns.
The effects won’t just hit Washington, DC. At least 85% of federal employees work outside the capital, in prisons, courts, national parks, and other areas, meaning the shutdown would be felt across the country.
How will travel and TSA function during the shutdown?
Commercial airlines would keep flying, and airline employees would not be affected. Most Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff at airport checkpoints would still have to work, but without pay. Out of the 61,475 TSA employees, about 58,488 would be required to stay on the job, according to Department of Homeland Security records.
More than 13,000 air traffic controllers would also keep working without pay, as outlined in the Department of Transportation’s shutdown plan. The only ones furloughed would be trainees who are not yet certified.
How will your medicare and medicaid benefits be affected?
Medicare and Medicaid payments will keep going as usual. But it may take longer to get responses from these agencies if there are fewer staff working.
What about Veterans’ benefits?
The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue providing health care and delivering benefits. This includes compensation, pensions, education and housing support, suicide prevention programs, homelessness help, caregiver support, and primary call center services.
What about student loans and grants?
Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans should continue as long as existing funds last. However, fewer staff are available during a shutdown, so processing may be slower. Free Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grants, and student loans can continue for a limited time. If the shutdown lasts a long time, schools, colleges, and universities could face funding problems because federal money may run out.
What a government shutdown could mean for Sacramento County
The full impact of a government shutdown on Sacramento County is hard to measure right now. The county’s Congressional District has nearly 5,000 federal workers. It is still not clear how many of them would be furloughed, asked to work without pay, or possibly laid off under the Trump Administration’s proposed Reduction in Force (RIF) plans.
Government services that will keep running during the shutdown
According to the FAQs released by the US government, even during a government shutdown, some essential services still operate. These include national security and public safety functions like emergency medical care, air traffic control, police work, border security, disaster response, and keeping the power grid running. However, these services can face problems. For example, during the 2018–2019 shutdown, air traffic controllers had to work without pay, which caused flight delays and temporarily stopped incoming flights at LaGuardia Airport.
Other programs that don’t rely on yearly funding, like the U.S. Postal Service, Social Security, and Medicare, also continue. But they can still experience delays. During the 1996 shutdown, most Social Security staff were furloughed at first, which slowed down services like answering public questions and processing benefit claims, even though the benefits themselves were still paid.
What happens to federal employees during shutdown?
As per the FAQs, when the government shuts down, federal employees are affected in two main ways. Some are furloughed, meaning they cannot work and do not get paid. Others must work without pay if their jobs are considered essential for public safety. While Congress usually approves retroactive pay once the shutdown ends, this does not help employees deal with immediate money problems.
After the 2019 shutdown, Congress passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which ensures federal employees receive back pay right after a shutdown ends.
During the 2018–2019 partial shutdown, about 2 million federal employees were affected. Around 380,000 were furloughed, and 420,000 worked without pay. Many had to delay mortgage or credit card payments, risking fees or loan problems. In 2013, over 2 million federal workers were employed, with roughly 850,000 furloughed during that shutdown.
Government contractors usually do not get back pay after shutdowns. In 2018–2019, an estimated 4.1 million people worked under government contracts, though it’s unclear how many were furloughed.
Federal facilities that will be affected by the shutdown
If the government shuts down, many federal facilities could be impacted, including:
- Military bases, armories, depots, and arsenals
- Veterans’ Affairs hospitals and clinics
- Federal prisons and courthouses
- National laboratories
- National parks, national forests, and other government-managed lands
- Ports, including seaports, airports, and transportation hubs with federal customs or law enforcement offices
- IRS offices
- Law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, ATF, DEA, and CBP
- General federal office buildings
It is still unknown how many federal employees would be furloughed, required to work without pay, or laid off under the Trump Administration’s Reduction in Force (RIF) plans.
How can the shutdown end? Does Trump have the power?
A government shutdown ends when Congress passes funding bills for the departments and agencies that were closed, and the President signs them into law. The President cannot end a shutdown on their own. These funding bills go through the normal process like any other law, they must be approved by both the House and the Senate before the President can sign them.
What to do if you have a problem with a federal agency during the shutdown
US Representative Ami Bera says that his office will stay open and keep helping with issues involving federal agencies. However, some agencies may take longer to respond because of furloughs or fewer staff.
If you need help, you can call his office at (916) 635-0505 or send them an email.