Government shutdowns are a big deal for Americans, but they also damage the country’s international reputation. At a time when America is vying with other countries for global leadership, it’s important for the United States to project strength and stability abroad, and a government shutdown undermines that goal.
A government shutdown occurs when Congress is unable to pass spending bills for the entire federal budget by a deadline set by law. If the budget expires, all agencies will shut down unless they have alternative funding sources. This is why it’s so important to pass a bill that keeps the government open and avoids shutdowns.
This year’s fight over the budget has already resulted in one shutdown, and with no resolution in sight, more disruptions are likely if the current funding lapse continues. A shutdown would disrupt many popular services, including passport processing, national parks maintenance, and food-safety inspections. In addition, the last shutdown slowed Small Business Administration loan programs that help American businesses.
While the nation’s 67 million Social Security and Medicare recipients will continue to receive their checks, benefits verification and card issuance would be affected during a shutdown. Similarly, air travel would be delayed and TSA and Air Traffic Controllers would work without pay, while federal contractors who do not have security clearance would lose pay and may not receive back pay once the shutdown is over. Each year, all agencies review their plans to handle a shutdown.