WASHINGTON: The US government is reportedly on the brink of a fourth shutdown in a decade which means federal funding for many non-essential departments could be suspended. 

According to BBC reports, Congress is set to miss its Saturday deadline to fund federal agencies in the US, a move that will significantly impact life, from air travel to recreational activities and even the issuance of marriage licenses. It would also lead to many government employees being furloughed without pay and the closure of necessary nutritional programs across the US. 

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A “hard-right revolt” in the US House of Representatives is pushing the government toward a funding crisis. The far-right lawmakers are reportedly demanding significant cuts in spending including an end to funding for Ukraine. With support from former President Donald Trump, they are tanking efforts by Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Although he can turn to the Democrats for support, it is likely the move would lead to his removal from the position of Speaker.

On Friday, a short-term funding measure that included stricter border policies, suggested by the Republicans, was rejected by nearly twenty-one members of the party. According to reports, in a closed-door meeting, McCarthy said that the Republicans would have to opt for the House bill or they would be blamed for the Government Shutdown. On the other hand, the lawmakers have stood their ground claiming they would not budge for anything less than their long-term spending bill. Turning to X (formerly Twitter), Congresswoman Nancy Mace wrote: “This take it or leave it or I’ll blame you won’t work on us”. 

Mace, who is in favor of the House bill, further wrote that she is in it for the “long run and have no problem taking on DC to do it”. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer shut down McCarthy for bringing up a “truly radical” proposal. Schumer said: “The Speaker needs to abandon his doomed mission of trying to please [Republican] extremists”. The White House has also shown support for the House to accept the spending bill. On Friday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote: “The path forward to fund the government has been laid out by the Senate with bipartisan support – House Republicans just need to take it”. 

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Similarly, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that the “failure… to act responsibly would hurt American families and cause economic headwinds” that could undermine progress. Yellen further warned that a government Shutdown could greatly impact loans to farmers and small businesses, food and workplace safety inspections, as well as infrastructure improvements, respectively. 

What does a Government Shutdown imply? 

A government shutdown is when Congress fails to ensure federal funding for nonessential government offices. This happens when there is a delay in approving the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and remains in effect until legislation is passed. 

According to reliable sources, a shutdown takes place when Congress fails to approve roughly thirty percent of the federal budget before the start of each fiscal year on October 1. This means, that on Monday, thousands of federal workers not considered “essential” would be out of work without pay. Many of these employees are used to living paycheck to paycheck, according to the American Federation of Government Employees. 

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Among those affected by the lack of funding, will be the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which aids new mothers and pregnant women with grocery assistance. Additionally, over 1.4 active-duty military personnel and air traffic controllers will have to work without pay. 

Fourth Government Shutdown in a Decade? 

According to a BBC report, the expected government shutdown will be the fourth in a decade with one only four years ago under the leadership of the then President Donald Trump, in 2019 that lasted for approximately thirty-four days. 

According to the Congressional Budget Office, at the time, the shutdown erased almost $11 billion in economic output forcing federal workers to stand in lines at food banks. 

Given the situation, the agency at the forefront of recovery and relief from natural disasters is actively working to conserve cash in the event a shutdown collides with an “above-normal Atlantic hurricane season” reported the BBC. 

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