America might be headed for another government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday pulled a temporary government funding bill off the House floor hours before a planned vote amid dissent within his own party.
“No vote today because we’re in the consensus-building business here in Congress. With small majorities, that’s what you do,” Johnson told reporters outside the House chamber, per The Associated Press. “We’re having thoughtful conversations, family conversations within the Republican conference and I believe we’ll get there.”
Johnson’s bill is tied to the SAVE Act, legislation that would require all Americans to submit proof of citizenship in order to vote and complicate the national voter registration process before a major election. The measure is universally opposed by Democrats and some Republicans.
The government will shut down on October 1, if no funding extension is passed. While that gives Congress over two weeks to pass a bill, lawmakers are anxious to leave Washington so they can return to their campaign trails ahead of Election Day.
Given their razor-thin majority, Republicans can only afford to lose four votes if every lawmaker shows up and Democrats remain united in opposition. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has blasted Johnson’s spending bill and his insistence to tie it to the controversial proposal.
Former President Donald Trump encouraged Republicans to reject any deal if voting security assurances are not attached to the funding bill.
The spending bill would include money allocations for major federal operations, including Veterans Affairs benefits, portions of the farm bill, healthcare programs, and more.
The looming shutdown comes as presidential campaigns between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris are kicking into high gear. There have been previous shutdowns in election years, but the nation’s politics were nowhere near as divided as they are now.
A government closure could prevent thousands of government workers from getting their paychecks.
Here’s a breakdown of what happens, what’s at stake, and why this time could be different.
What happens when there’s a government shutdown?
When the government shuts down, federal agencies classify their employees as either “essential” or “nonessential.” All “nonessential” employees will be furloughed until the government reopens, meaning they will not be able to work or be paid.
The government employee umbrella includes millions of people from various organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security and National Parks. Not only would widespread staff shortages be disruptive for consumers, but many of those employees might struggle to make ends meet without an income.
Americans could notice disruptions. Airports could be short-staffed because TSA agents would lose pay, natural disaster and emergency response programs could be delayed, and some social safety net programs like SNAP could be limited. Student loan forgiveness and financial aid programs could also be paused, along with all federal small business loan servicing.
Government shutdowns have previously lasted anywhere between three hours and five weeks, but the length depends on Congressional action. The only way to reopen the government is for lawmakers to pass a spending bill.
Has this happened before?
Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown last year, after Republicans couldn’t agree on a temporary funding resolution. Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was later ousted from his role over his handling of negotiations with President Joe Biden.
The longest government shutdown in US history occurred between December 2018 and January 2019. The shutdown lasted 35 days, causing 800,000 federal employees to go without pay and costing the federal government billions of dollars.
Trump is advocating for a shutdown, calling on fellow Republicans to only accept a spending bill if it includes promises of election security.
“If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET,” Trump posted on his social network, Truth Social.
How could this impact the election?
Neither side sees the benefit of a government shutdown. The pay for millions of government employees would be at stake. In fact, if a shutdown dragged on, active-duty servicemembers could miss their pay.
Polling shows that Republicans often bear the blame for shutdowns by insisting on policies being implemented before agreeing to funding measures. Americans blamed Republicans by 23 points more than then-President Bill Clinton for a 21-day shutdown in 1995, according to The Washington Post. Clinton went on to win the 1996 presidential election in a landslide 379 to 159 electoral college victory.
Trump exacerbated the blame Republicans typically receive when he surprisingly claimed credit for a 2018 shutdown.
Still, a shutdown hasn’t occurred this close to a major election in decades — and it could shape campaign optics ahead of November.
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