Here's what could happen if the government shuts down just before the holidays.

 The government is scheduled to shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, with Congress having no current plan to prevent it.

Dec. 20, 2024, 7:59 AM GMT+6

By Kyle Stewart
WASHINGTON — A government shutdown will take effect this weekend unless Congress takes swift action. Federal funding runs out at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and congressional Republicans are scrambling for a solution after billionaire Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump derailed their initial bill, followed by the failure of a backup plan to pass on Thursday night.

As Congress continues to debate, government operations that the public relies on, as well as paychecks for millions of federal workers, are at risk.

Here’s what you need to know about a potential government shutdown and how it could impact you:

What is a government shutdown?

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse, meaning most government funding decisions are made on Capitol Hill. Every year, Congress must pass spending bills before October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, to avoid a shutdown. If this doesn’t happen, Congress can pass a continuing resolution to keep the government operating for a short time.

In September, Congress passed such a resolution with a new deadline set for December 20. Now, if Congress does not act by the end of Friday, funding will lapse, forcing all nonessential government functions to cease.

How did Congress get here?

The government funding process is supposed to work like this: Appropriations committees in both the House and Senate pass a dozen spending bills, covering various federal agencies. These bills must then be approved by both chambers and signed by the president.

This process rarely happens on time. In September, Congress passed a short-term extension after failing to meet the deadline. Although Congress knew about the December 20 deadline, a deal to avert a shutdown wasn’t revealed until this week.

On Tuesday night, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unveiled a plan agreed upon by top Republicans and Democrats. The proposal would extend government funding until March 14 and provide economic aid for farmers and hurricane-affected areas. It also included a small pay raise for Congress members, the first increase in over a decade.

However, Elon Musk criticized the bill to his 200 million followers, and both Trump and far-right Republicans opposed it, labeling it a giveaway to Democrats. Trump also demanded that Congress address the debt ceiling, which isn’t expected to be reached until next year, and called for its elimination.

House Republicans attempted to pass a revised bill addressing Trump’s concerns, but it failed, with nearly all Democrats and 38 Republicans voting against it. With time running out, lawmakers must now find an alternative solution.

When would a shutdown begin, and how long could it last?

Without action from Congress, a shutdown will begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. The effects won’t be immediately felt, but they could disrupt operations starting Monday.

Predicting the length of a shutdown is challenging, as Capitol Hill remains divided and the holiday season approaches. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, while Democrats control the Senate. The balance of power will shift on January 3 when Republicans take control of both chambers, and Trump will be inaugurated on January 20.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has suggested supporting a shutdown until Inauguration Day.

What parts of the government would be affected?

A government shutdown would prevent the federal government from paying millions of employees, including military personnel, just before the holidays. Hundreds of thousands could be furloughed, temporarily halting their work. During the 2013 shutdown, about 850,000 workers were furloughed. Even employees performing essential duties would not be paid during the shutdown.

Federal workers would receive retroactive pay once the government reopens, a benefit that became law after the 2019 shutdown.

Some government functions will continue, including military operations and public safety tasks like air traffic control and TSA security. Each agency has a contingency plan outlining which employees are considered essential and must keep working during a shutdown.

For example, the Defense Department would continue operations with active military personnel, and essential medical care at Pentagon facilities would remain in place. However, military retiree benefits, though funded from a separate trust, might be delayed due to staffing shortages.

Both President Biden and Congress members would continue working and be paid, as required by law.

Would a shutdown affect benefits like Social Security?

Social Security payments, which reach 73 million recipients each month, would continue during a shutdown since they are considered “mandatory” spending and are not tied to annual appropriations bills.

Other mandatory spending programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and veterans’ benefits, would also proceed as usual.

How long did the longest government shutdown last?

Over the past four decades, the U.S. has experienced 20 shutdowns, each lasting at least one full day. The longest, and most recent, lasted 34 days from December 21, 2018, to January 25, 2019.

During that shutdown, national parks stayed open but began accumulating trash as workers were furloughed. TSA employees, required to work without pay, called in sick, causing delays at airports. The TSA has warned that a shutdown this year could lead to longer lines, especially with the holiday travel rush.