With Just Hours to Go, No Deal in Sight to Avoid Government Shutdown
September 30th (Washington, D.C.) – {Updated with the latest details as of 9:07pm ET} Unless something drastic happens, we are a mere few hours away from the largest, and perhaps longest, government shutdown in United States history. The entire federal budget—all 12 appropriation bills—must be passed by midnight or every government program and service will come to a grinding halt, save for those that support critical infrastructure and security, are required by mandatory spending, or have some other way to temporarily continue to function. Nonetheless, even those essential workers who sustain these operations will only be showing up because they are compelled to do so by law; most will not be seeing a paycheck for their efforts. In order for them to be paid, not only does a budget need to be passed, but Congress must create separate legislation to compensate them for the time the government was shut down. Meanwhile, no elected or appointed official will be receiving their recompence, either, including the person at the center of this maelstrom: the President of the United States.