Government Shutdown

Each year, Congress passes 12 appropriations bills to fund the government, sometimes combined into a single bill called an “omnibus” or a few bills called “minibuses.” When these bills are enacted, programs covered by them receive their full-year funding, and the government is said to have passed a budget. However, if these bills are not passed and there is no continuing resolution (CR) in place to temporarily fund the government, then portions of the government that have not been funded by law must shut down.

The federal government funds thousands of activities across 900 budget accounts annually—programs that make the country run. A government shutdown halts many of these essential services that people rely on and puts hundreds more at risk.

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5 Reasons Why Careening From Near Shutdown to Near Shutdown Is Bad for America Article
The waning Snow Moon sets behind the U.S. Capitol Dome.

5 Reasons Why Careening From Near Shutdown to Near Shutdown Is Bad for America

While avoiding a federal government shutdown is important, the chaos of constant shutdown threats; uncertainties about funding; and patchwork continuing resolutions are still detrimental for the government’s ability to provide services and the health of American democracy.

Military Service Members and U.S. National Security Will Pay the Price for Trump’s Manufactured Emergency Article
President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., February 15, 2019. (Getty/Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

Military Service Members and U.S. National Security Will Pay the Price for Trump’s Manufactured Emergency

In an unconstitutional exercise of emergency authority, President Trump has threatened to divert billions of dollars away from military projects to fund an unnecessary border wall that serves few interests but his own political agenda.

Saharra Griffin

The State of the Trump Economy Article
Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to guests during an event in Warren, Michigan, on March 4, 2016. (Getty/Scott Olson)

The State of the Trump Economy

In his State of the Union address, President Trump will try to take credit for a growing economy; in reality, he has done everything he can to direct those gains to the wealthy few.

Lily Roberts, Andy Green

Trump’s Shutdown Threatened the American Dream, Especially for People of Color Article
Even after the end of the government shutdown, federal employees continue to line up outside the World Central Kitchen for free food and coffee, January 28, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Getty/Chip Somodevilla)

Trump’s Shutdown Threatened the American Dream, Especially for People of Color

More than 228,000 people of color were furloughed or forced to work without pay because of the president’s decision to shut down the government in an effort to gain funding for a border wall.

Connor Maxwell

The State of the U.S. Labor Market: Pre-January 2019 Jobs Release Article
A Transportation Security Administration agent works at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago during the partial government shutdown on January 7, 2019. (Getty/Scott Olson)

The State of the U.S. Labor Market: Pre-January 2019 Jobs Release

Policymakers and economists need to center populations who face high labor market barriers when evaluating the health of the labor market.

Daniella Zessoules, Galen Hendricks, Michael Madowitz, 1 More Olugbenga Ajilore

5 Ways the Trump Shutdown Is Harming Struggling Workers, Families, and Communities Article
President Donald Trump answers questions from the press as he departs the White House, January 2019. (Getty/Win McNamee)

5 Ways the Trump Shutdown Is Harming Struggling Workers, Families, and Communities

President Donald Trump’s shutdown is more than a debate around a wall: It is about the low-income, disabled, and indigenous peoples at and within our borders whose lives and economic security he is willfully endangering for political gain.

Donovan Hicks, Heidi Schultheis, Rejane Frederick, 2 More Azza Altiraifi, Rachel West

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Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice

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Restoring Social Trust in Democracy

Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must act to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.

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