Every year, Congress must pass and the President must sign appropriation bills to fund federal agencies. If a budget impasse is not resolved, the federal government is put into “shutdown” mode until new funding legislation is passed and signed. The shutdown affects a variety of activities including the furloughing of non-essential agency employees and halting many agency functions until appropriations are restored. However, essential services like law enforcement, air traffic control, food safety inspections, military and veterans benefits (including on-base and off-base health care), national parks and certain social security payments continue.
The longer the shutdown lasts, the more impact it has on cities and their residents. For example, the lapse in federal funding impacts EPA efforts to address dangerous chemicals like PFAS at sites where they are found. This slows down investigations and response times. It also stalls efforts to maintain airport security checkpoints, which creates long lines for travelers and delays flights. Additionally, a lapse in federal funding can result in the closure of museums and national parks. It can even derail long-term disaster recovery projects.
In addition, a prolonged shutdown can impact recruitment and retention of federal workers, especially among young people. This can lead to a less stable workforce, which can in turn impact the quality of service provided to citizens and businesses. NLC is encouraging members to contact their Congressional delegations to share with them the toll that the uncertainty caused by the budget impasse is taking on their communities.