Everything you need to know about a government shutdown  

Keeping our government open and operating effectively is a fundamental responsibility of Congress and the White House. However, today, a highly contentious partisan fight over federal spending is creating a strong possibility of a government shutdown. 

• Why it matters: A shutdown could affect the public in a variety of ways such as the halting of food safety inspections, the closing of museums, federal lands, and national parks, potentially long lines at airport security checkpoints and flight delays, and the families of federal workers and military personnel going without a paycheck for the duration of the shutdown. 
• The current situation: The latest threat comes in the midst of a de facto government shutdown, with the Trump administration in its early days arbitrarily firing tens of thousands of civil servants, unilaterally freezing congressionally approved funding, failing to enforce laws and effectively sabotaging the work at agencies dealing with everything from public health and education to consumer protection, foreign aid, law enforcement and scientific research. 

Day-to-day government operations should never become hostage to policy differences or unilateral actions by the White House. Our legislative and executive branches must work together to make shutdowns—and the continual threat of a shutdown as well as the suspension of congressionally approved services—a thing of the past so that our government can better serve the public and solve national challenges.   

The resources below will help you better understand and prepare for a government shutdown, including case studies, commentary and research on how shutdowns harm the public, a government shutdown FAQ primer, and a checklist to help federal leaders effectively manage a lapse in appropriations.  

Key resources 

• Government shutdowns 101: FAQs – What is a government shutdown, and how does it affect federal employees and the public? Our FAQ answers all your shutdown-related questions.   
• Shutdown Letdown report – In “Shutdown Letdown,” the Partnership for Public Service shares four case studies that offer insight into the shutdown’s impact on small businesses, federal agencies and the public. 
• 100 Reasons to Stop Future Government Shutdowns – The 35-day partial shutdown of our federal government, from Dec. 22, 2018, until Jan. 28, 2019, adversely affected 800,000 civil servants who were denied their paychecks, harmed our national security and economy, and resulted in diminished services to the public and the business community. These 100 news stories provide a window into the harmful consequences of the shutdown. 
• Ready to Shutdown checklist – With the possibility of another shutdown, consider these tips as you update your Procedures for a Lapse in Appropriations. 
• Fed Figures: How the Federal Workforce is Impacted During a Government Shutdown – Government shutdowns have a profound effect on our nation’s federal employees and the public—curtailing the ability of civil servants to do their jobs and provide crucial public benefits, conduct scientific research, manage the economy, address national security challenges and more. Read more about the impact shutdowns have on our federal workforce here.

In the Media 

• 3/11/2025, The Contrarian, A double-barreled government shutdown 
• 1/14/2024, The Hill, How we can stop shortchanging taxpayers and ensure agencies use resources wisely
• 9/28/2023, The Hill, What’s really at stake with a government shutdown, by Max Stier

Join the #IStandWithFeds campaign

Show your support of our federal workers by using #IStandWithFeds and #ShutdownStories on social media. Visit our website to download the social media toolkit and get resources to share your #ShutdownStories.

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