The U.S. government entered a shutdown on Wednesday after the Senate failed to pass a short-term funding bill intended to keep operations running through November 20. The bill, requiring 60 votes to pass, was defeated by a 55-45 vote. As a result, approximately 750,000 federal employees are expected to be furloughed daily, leaving many wondering about their financial stability.
The CBO was the source of that 750,000 number for federal workers expected to be furloughed. This is a huge blow for a workforce that’s already been turned upside down. Together, tens or even hundreds of thousands of federal employees are likely to lose their pay if the shutdown persists. Essential personnel such as air traffic controllers and border patrol agents will continue to work without compensation until Congress resolves the funding impasse.
The repercussions of the shutdown go far beyond furloughs. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a memo directing federal agencies to prepare layoff plans for programs deemed “not consistent with the president’s priorities” in the event of funding lapses. This decision brings with it a fear of lasting and irreversible job losses. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have each warned of even deeper cuts.
This recent government shutdown resembled the 34-day government shutdown in 2018 during Trump’s first term. That standoff cruelly thrust countless thousands of federal employees into financial insecurity. This time, most social programs are expected to continue functioning because they receive funding outside the annual budget process, providing some relief amidst the chaos.
The Senate’s failure to pass the full year funding bill highlights a growing chasm of partisanship. All but two Democratic senators opposed the bill, reflecting ongoing tensions in Congress as lawmakers grapple with budgetary constraints and differing priorities.
As federal agencies prepare for the impact of the shutdown, it is employees who are simply playing a waiting game. They deal with an unrelenting worry over their next paychecks and losing their jobs as core services are provided in crisis mode day-in and day-out. The effects of this shutdown will be felt across the entire economy that relies on federal services and support.