...
By Aliss Higham
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The U.S. began its first day of a federal government shutdown on Wednesday after the Senate failed to approve a stopgap funding measure before the midnight deadline.
Federal agencies have started rolling out contingency plans, scaling back services and furloughing thousands of workers while Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked.
But mail delivery and other postal services are set to continue uninterrupted.
Read More on News
What Happens In A Government Shutdown?
During a government shutdown, many federal agencies and programs are forced to scale back or halt operations because Congress has not passed the necessary funding bills. "Essential" services—like air traffic control, border security, and military operations—continue to operate, but "nonessential" functions are paused. This means hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either furloughed (sent home without pay until funding is restored) or required to work without pay until the shutdown ends.
Public-facing services are often disrupted: national parks may close or operate with reduced staff, passport and visa processing slows, and regulatory agencies suspend many activities. Programs funded through mandatory spending, like Social Security and Medicare, continue, but other services dependent on annual appropriations, such as certain food assistance programs or housing support, may face delays or interruptions if a shutdown drags on.
In short, shutdowns don’t stop the entire government, but they freeze large portions of it.
...
'An Independent Entity'
The U.S. Postal Service says it will continue to provide normal services.
In a September 25 statement, the USPS said post offices will stay open and operate under "business as usual."
"Because we are an independent entity that is generally funded through the sale of our products and services, and not by tax dollars, our services will not be impacted by a government shutdown," the agency said.
Why Has The Government Shut Down?
The shutdown stems from Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill to keep government services running into October and beyond. Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, but in the Senate they lack the 60 votes needed to advance a spending measure, giving Democrats leverage in the standoff.
At the center of the dispute is health care. Democrats argue the Republican proposal would make coverage less affordable, and they are demanding an extension of tax credits set to expire, as well as a rollback of Trump's Medicaid cuts and opposition to reductions in public health agency budgets. While the House approved a stopgap bill, the measure has yet to clear the Senate.
The last shutdown ran from December 2018 to January 2019, under the first Trump administration.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines