Confused by all the talk of a looming possible government shutdown?
If President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans and Democrats cannot agree on a government funding bill by the deadline of Wednesday, Oct. 1, the government will partially shut down. President Trump and congressional leaders from both parties met at the White House on Monday, Sept. 29.
Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but a temporary measure keeping the government open would require at least 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate, meaning some Democratic votes are needed, according to USA TODAY.
The Republicans in the House of Representatives attempted to pass a short-term funding bill on Sept. 19 to fund the government through Nov. 21. But the bill fell short in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to avert a Democratic filibuster. As the deadline quickly approaches, both sides are digging in their heels, pinning the looming possible shutdown on their counterparts across the political aisle.
Here’s a quick breakdown on when and why the federal government could shut down this week, when the last government shutdown was and how it could impact Floridians.
Will there be a government shutdown? Trump and Democrats ready for Monday showdown
Will the government shut down in 2025? Why is the government shutting down?
The federal government will run out of money at the end of the fiscal year, which ends at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
If congressional leaders can overcome their differences on how funds should be allocated before the deadline, there will be no shutdown. If an agreement isn’t reached by that time, the federal government will partially shut down until an agreement is reached. Federal agencies will discontinue all non-essential discretionary functions until new funding legislation is passed and signed into law.
The main argument is over cuts to healthcare programs that GOP leaders want to impose. This includes cuts to health programs that benefit millions of Americans, like Medicaid and lapsing Obamacare premium subsidies.
It’s happened before: An Obamacare fight may shut down the government.
When will the government shut down?
If a bipartisan agreement isn’t reached on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the government will partially shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
When was the last time the government shut down?
The most recent and longest government shutdown, which lasted from December 2018 through January 2019, spanned 35 days and cost the economy around $3 billion.
That shutdown was due to disagreements between the first Trump administration and Congress over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, and closely followed a temporary shutdown in 2018 that lasted only a few hours.
Here’s a timeline from USA TODAY of the 21 government shutdowns that have occurred in the last five decades:
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1976: Under President Gerald Ford. Lasted for 11 days.
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1977: Under President Jimmy Carter. Lasted 12 days.
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1977: Under Carter. Lasted eight days.
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1977: Under Carter. Lasted eight days.
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1978: Under Carter. Lasted 17 days.
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1979: Under Carter. Lasted 11 days.
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1981: Under President Ronald Reagan. Lasted two days.
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1982: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1982: Under Reagan. Lasted three days.
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1983: Under Reagan. Lasted three days.
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1984: Under Reagan. Lasted two days.
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1984: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1986: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1987: Under Reagan. Lasted one day.
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1990: Under George H.W. Bush. Lasted four days.
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1995: Under President Bill Clinton. Lasted five days.
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1996: Under Clinton. Lasted 21 days.
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2013: Under President Barack Obama. Lasted 17 days.
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2018: Under President Donald Trump. Lasted three days.
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2018: Under Trump. Lasted several hours.
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2019: Under Trump. Lasted 35 days and cost the economy about $3 billion, equal to 0.02% of GDP, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
How many federal employees are there in Florida?
According to the OPM’s latest data, as of Sept. 2024 there were 95,167 federal employees in all agencies in Florida, about 1 in 20 of all federal employees nationwide.
In its first months the Trump administration worked to slash federal jobs and freeze federal funding through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which resulted in thousands of firings, layoffs and early resignation acceptances. Exact numbers are difficult to determine because some people fired were still on provisionary status and some of Trump’s attempts at workforce reduction have been blocked or reversed by lower courts.
What happens in a government shutdown? What to know about Florida impacts
Government shutdowns happen when Congress fails to agree on and pass appropriations bills, which fund the government’s operations for the upcoming fiscal year. Federal agencies classify workers as either “essential” or “nonessential.”
Essential workers continue to work, but may not receive immediate payment. Nonessential workers are furloughed, meaning they are unable to work or receive pay until the government reopens.
Failure to pass a funding bill could lead to furloughs for thousands of federal workers and a reduction in federal services. During the longest government shutdown in the U.S. to date, USA TODAY reported that about 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days.
According to the Office of Management and Budget’s latest data, as of Sept. 2024 there were 95,167 federal employees in all agencies in Florida, which is about 1 in 20 of all federal employees nationwide.
Here are some of the government-funded entities that could shut down on Oct. 1:
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Environmental and Food Inspection: Inspections would be halted. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the FDA reinstated some food inspections a few weeks into the funding lapse for high-risk products.
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Internal Revenue Service (IRS): In the event of a shutdown, the IRS, which verifies income and Social Security numbers, would not be able to perform this service.
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Though funding for the SNAP program is mandatory, the ability to send out “food stamp” benefits could be affected by a shutdown.
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Health and Human Services: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be prevented from admitting new patients or processing grant applications.
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National Parks: During a government shutdown, national parks and monuments are closed. Rangers are furloughed, and facilities are shut down, although some states may temporarily fund operations.
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Transportation: Airport security screeners and air traffic controllers stay on duty; new hires and significant infrastructure projects may face delays; absenteeism may impact airport operations.
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White House: Most of the White House staff is furloughed. Essential offices, such as the National Security Council, continue to operate. The president’s salary remains unaffected.
Contributing: C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida; Terry Moseley, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Government shutdown and how Floridians could be affected
