Government shutdown impacts/ Social Security shutdown/ federal employee furloughs/ IRS during shutdown/ national park closures/ WASHINGTON/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ With the government at risk of shutting down at midnight Friday, federal employees face furloughs, and services deemed non-essential may pause. Essential operations like Social Security and Medicare will continue, but disruptions in processing new applications and national park closures are expected. Congressional negotiations remain stalled as the deadline nears.
Government Shutdown Looms: What You Need to Know
Key Highlights
- Deadline Approaches: Congress must pass funding legislation by Friday to avoid a shutdown.
- Essential Services: Social Security and Medicare payments will continue, but new applications may face delays.
- Widespread Impact: National parks, court systems, and tax audits will halt; many federal workers face furloughs.
Federal Shutdown Looms: Impacts on Agencies, Social Security & Services
Deep Look
Understanding a Government Shutdown
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation, causing federal agencies to suspend non-essential operations. With the current continuing resolution expiring Friday, a new measure is needed to avoid closures and disruptions.
What Happens During a Shutdown?
Each federal agency creates its own plan for a shutdown. Here’s how it could impact various sectors:
- Federal Workers:
- Many will be furloughed, temporarily losing pay but retaining their jobs.
- Essential workers, like TSA agents and Coast Guard members, will work without pay but receive back pay after the shutdown.
- Government Services:
- Social Security and Medicare benefits will continue.
- National parks and monuments will close.
- IRS operations like tax audits will stop, though automated collections will proceed.
- Defense and Security:
- The FBI, Border Patrol, and Department of Defense operations deemed essential will continue.
- Civilian defense employees may face furloughs.
Key Government Agencies Affected
- Postal Service: Operations remain unaffected, as it is an independent agency.
- National Parks: Most parks and monuments will close, impacting tourism and local economies.
- Court Systems: Civil cases may pause, but criminal prosecutions will continue.
Will Social Security and Medicare Be Affected?
No. Payments for Social Security and Medicare will continue as they fall under mandatory spending. However, processing new applications could face delays. During the 1996 shutdown, thousands of Medicare applicants were turned away daily.
What Is a Continuing Resolution (CR)?
A CR is a temporary measure that extends federal funding at previous levels to prevent a shutdown while long-term agreements are negotiated. The House failed to pass a Trump-backed CR on Thursday, which included a controversial two-year debt ceiling extension.
What Is an Omnibus Bill?
This all-encompassing funding package consolidates multiple appropriations bills. Republicans opposed an omnibus bill, preferring to defer negotiations until President-elect Trump’s administration takes office.
The Stakes of a Shutdown
The last major government shutdown occurred during Trump’s first term, lasting 35 days over border wall funding. A shutdown could harm federal workers, disrupt services, and shake public trust in governance.
- Past Shutdowns:
What Happens Next?
Negotiations continue as Speaker Mike Johnson faces pressure to deliver a funding resolution. Whether Congress will act in time remains uncertain.
Key Takeaways
- Social Security and Medicare: Payments continue, but new applications may face delays.
- National Parks: Closures likely, disrupting tourism.
- Federal Employees: Furloughs expected for non-essential roles, with essential workers going unpaid.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.