US narrowly avoids government shutdown

The United States government narrowly avoided government shutdown Saturday night, Sept. 30. Congress passed a stopgap bill into law, temporarily keeping the government funded. Lawmakers have until November 17 to pass another bill or the government will once again face shutdown.

The bill passed as a last ditch bipartisan effort. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shifted tactics after an attempt to pass a more conservative bill failed on Friday, Sept. 29. McCarthy was unable to unite the Republican majority with 21 hard-right Republican representatives voting against the first bill.

The attempt on Saturday appealed to Democrats and passed by 335-91 in the House and 88-9 in the Senate. The bipartisan effort was successful, but left McCarthy in a precarious position with members of his party that did not support his actions.

Two large debates that remain for the budget are aid for Ukraine and border security. The bill included natural disaster relief funding.

The federal budget for the United States is contained in 12 bills that must be passed annually. When these bills are not passed, a complete or partial government shutdown occurs. A partial shutdown happens when some, but not all of the bills are passed. Essential government functions will continue, but nonessential functions are halted and government employees are not paid until a new budget is passed. During a partial shutdown, government agencies that have not had funds appropriated face shutdown. Federal workers who are deemed nonessential will be furloughed, or temporarily suspended from working until the shutdown ends. A shutdown would immediately affect 2.2 million federal workers and 1.3 million active-duty troops.

The bill includes specific measures to fund the Federal Aviation Administration operating until Dec. 31, 2023. While essential government services continue during shutdown, employees such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement and military personnel continue work without pay. In the past, this has led to more frequent delays and longer wait times for airline travel. During the longest government shutdown of 34 days in 2019, hundreds of Transportation Security Administration officers called out sick. Shutdown can impact other government services, such as the speed of passport and visa applications, small business loans and government benefits. A shutdown does not affect benefits such as social security, Medicare, or the U.S. Postal Service.

By Aubrey Benton