US Government 'Shutdown': What Does It Mean and What Are the Implications?

The US government shutdown was a hot topic in the newspapers this morning. Most government services and programs in the country have been completely shut down, meaning hundreds of thousands of government workers are currently working without pay, or in some cases, without pay. But why is this shutdown happening? And what are its consequences? Metro explains.

The US government shutdown began this morning at 6:00 a.m. (midnight local time). This isn't the first time this has happened: at the end of 2018, the US government also shut down for 35 days. Such a shutdown occurs when a political agreement cannot be reached on funding government services.

In total, the US government has shut down 21 times in the past fifty years.

This time, the talks have stalled over healthcare. Democrats are demanding that President Donald Trump extend expiring healthcare funding and reverse cuts to the Medicaid insurance program. Republicans subsequently called it "holding the government hostage." A last-ditch effort to reach a resolution failed in the Senate on Tuesday evening. Shortly after the Senate failed to pass the measures submitted by Democrats and Republicans to fund the federal government, the White House announced a government shutdown.

During the government shutdown, government workers are being sent home en masse without pay. Only essential government personnel, such as border patrol, the FBI, and the military, are allowed to continue working, but without pay. Air travel could also be disrupted, and social security payments could be severely disrupted. Public places like museums and national parks will be closed during the shutdown.

While government shutdowns are common, the stakes are higher than usual this time: Trump is threatening to permanently lay off government employees in order to make the government more efficient. This is also something the White House is currently threatening Democrats with. "We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible—things that are bad for them and cannot be undone by them," Trump said Tuesday.

"Like laying off huge numbers of people and cutting back on programs they support." Although the shutdown is very risky for the Democrats, their Senate leader, Chuck Schumer, is standing firm. He wants to continue fighting to preserve healthcare for millions of Americans and believes it's important to oppose Trump.

Moreover, a government shutdown always comes with significant economic damage. Because many Americans aren't getting paid, they have less to spend. This causes the United States to lose significant revenue. It also impacts tourism, as many popular tourist destinations are closed. Major delays at airports are also expected: during the previous shutdown, a large portion of airport staff reported sick because they weren't receiving pay.

Key inspections of food, power plants, and water treatment facilities are also being temporarily halted. Federal courts have indicated they can continue for a few more days, but they too will eventually close. The consequences for people living in poverty are also dire: nearly seven million American mothers, babies, and children are at risk of temporarily losing financial support from nutrition programs, as these programs rely on federal funding. Some social benefits, such as pensions, disability benefits, and veterans' benefits, will continue to be paid, but may be delayed.

The duration of the government shutdown depends on how quickly Democrats and Republicans can reach an agreement. A temporary funding measure will be voted on again on Wednesday.