Government shutdown primer

Transcription

1 Government shutdown primer Recent government shutdowns, agency furlough & more December 8, 08 Producer Presentation Center

2 What leads to a government shutdown? Budget negotiation process Budget resolution Senate passes budget resolution President releases budget request Congress passes combined budget resolution House passes budget resolution Appropriation bills Appropriations subcommittees draft bills Senate passes House passes Congress combines and passes President signs the If Congress cannot pass all of the by the deadline, the government shuts down Sources: Karen Yourish and Laura Stanton, A guide to the federal budget process, The Washington Post. Alice Johnson Slide last updated on: December 7, 06

3 Government shutdowns in the last four decades and the party in control of Congress LENGTH OF SHUTDOWN IN DAYS Republican Congress Democratic Congress Split Congress Republican president Democratic president Sept Sept. 977 Oct Nov. 977 Sept. 978 Sept Nov. 98 Sept. 98 Dec. 98 Nov. 98 Sept. 984 Oct. 984 Oct. 986 Dec. 987 Oct. 990 Nov. 995 Dec Sept. 0 Jan. 08 Feb Sources: Axios PM, January 8, 08. All 0 Government Shutdowns in US History, ThoughtCo. December, 08. Daniel Stublen Slide last updated on: December 7, 08

4 Who goes to work during a government shutdown? Federal programs and employees not affected by a government shutdown Employee group Examples Business impact Necessary for national security Necessary for security of people and property Permanent programs or programs with multi-year funding Agencies with independent sources of funding US Military Embassies abroad Air traffic control Emergency medical care Border control Federal prisons Oversight of the banking system Meat and egg inspection Social Security Veterans benefits Unemployment and food stamps Medicare and Medicaid US Postal Service Federal Reserve User fee-funded staff Patent and Trademark Office Visa and passport processing Parts of HHS (including segments of the FDA and NIH) Grain inspections Some defense contractors will still bill for work, but payments may be delayed Air traffic controllers continue to work during a government shutdown, which means airlines will continue to run FDA would continue select vital activities including maintaining critical consumer protection to handle emergencies, high-risk recalls and import entry review Social Security checks will go out as usual Medicare and Medicaid recipients will continue to receive healthcare benefits USPS will continue to provide mailing services and Postal Service workers get paid normally Active service military members get paid regardless of length of shutdown Employees will continue to process patent applications, possibly for up to four weeks, but cannot accept new ones The State Department would keep most of its passport agencies and consular operations open as long as it has the funds to do so Sources: National Journal Research, 06. Alice Johnson Slide last updated on: December 8, 08 4

5 During government shutdowns, contingency plans dictate the number of workers furloughed in each department Percentage of employees who will be furloughed Total number of workers per agency Defense 50% Defense 7, VA 4% VA 77,08 Homeland Security % Homeland Security,860 Justice 7% Justice 4,647 Treasury 8% Treasury 88,68 Agriculture 78% Agriculture 85,9 HHS 50% HHS 8,48 Interior 76% Interior 77,809 Transportation 6% Transportation 54,66 Commerce 87% Commerce 47,896 Labor 8% Labor 5,8 Energy 7% Energy 4,887 EPA 95% EPA 4,449 HUD 96% HUD 7,797 Education 95% Education 4,9 Sources: Darla Cameron, Lisa Rein, Who gets sent home if the government shuts down, Washington Post, January 8, 08. Alice Johnson Slide last updated on: December 7, 08 5

6 Shutdown furlough could have nationwide impacts, especially in states with hundreds of thousands of federal employees Number of federal executive branch employees in fiscal year 07, by state Virginia had 44,95 federal employees in 07, with Washington, DC following close behind at 4,67 In FY 07, California had 5,466 federal employees, more than in any other state MA RI CT NJ DE MD DC,95 federal employees live in Texas Sources: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Major work locations of the executive branch fiscal year 07, February 08. Alice Johnson Slide last updated on: December 8, 08 6