{"id":24655,"date":"2023-08-02T18:05:16","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T18:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/08\/02\/what-happens-when-the-government-shuts-down-according-to-brookings\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:02:24","slug":"what-happens-when-the-government-shuts-down-according-to-brookings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/congress\/2023\/08\/02\/what-happens-when-the-government-shuts-down-according-to-brookings\/","title":{"rendered":"What happens when the government shuts down, according to Brookings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brookings Institute\u2019s assessment of Congress\u2019 ability to pass a budget by Sept. 30 is grim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCongress appears to be on track<\/a> to trigger a government shutdown on Oct. 1, 2023, because it is not expected to pass the 12 appropriations bills that fund government operations before the start of the new fiscal year,\u201d the nonprofit public policy group said in a report published July 31.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That in itself may not be surprising \u2014 there have been more than 20 shutdowns and funding gaps since 1976, and Congress is almost always late on its appropriations deadlines. The result is a near annual threat of government operations being pared down without a fresh influx of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnder the Antideficiency Act<\/a> (initially passed in 1884 and amended in 1950), federal agencies cannot spend or obligate any money without an appropriation (or other approval) from Congress,\u201d Brookings says. \u201cWhen Congress fails to enact the 12 annual appropriation bills<\/a>, federal agencies must cease all non-essential functions until Congress acts. This is known as a government shutdown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means something for almost everyone: the public, industry and, of course, government workers. And typically, agencies have little notice when it comes time to implement a shutdown furlough, per the Office of Personnel Management\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t