WASHINGTON – A partial federal government shutdown looms as lawmakers race against a Wednesday,October 1st deadline to secure funding for federal agencies. If a funding agreement isn’t reached by 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, agencies will begin to furlough employees and curtail services.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are slated for furloughs, mirroring disruptions seen during prior shutdowns where customer service and new Medicare applications were impacted. However, essential functions like interest payments on the national debt – totaling 13% of federal spending – will continue. The U.S. Postal Service, largely self-funded, is expected to operate without disruption.
While the president, members of Congress, and federal judges will continue to receive pay as dictated by the Constitution, many congressional and judicial staff face potential furloughs. This could strain federal court operations, particularly if reserve funding from court fees is depleted.
Historically, since 1976, federal funding has lapsed for at least one day on 20 occasions, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Prior to 1980, thes lapses didn’t result in partial or complete shutdowns. As 1995, there have been four shutdowns lasting more than one weekday, the most recent spanning from December 2018 to January 2019. Instances, like in December 2023 and March of this year, have seen funding deals finalized after the deadline without immediate disruption.
