Md. Fakrul Islam Chowdhury writes for DOT :
Since December 22, 2018, US government has been partially shut down due to Democrats led Congress’s refusal to sanction Trump’s request of 5.7 million dollars funding for building the border wall in Mexico—USA border.
As of Wednesday, the shutdown (18 days) was the second longest shutdown of history after the shutdown that occurred in December 1995 when the government shutdown lasted for 21 full days.
So What Really is a Government Shutdown?
Usually most of the agencies of US federal government gets its funding from annual budget appropriations decided by Congress. The majority of the government has had such funding in place since the budget year begins on Oct. 1. This year was no exception. However, in case of Congress failing to pass the budget before the new budget year begins the government gets shutdown. This year although much of the government got its funding since the beginning of the current budget year other agencies had been operating on a series of temporary extensions, the last of which expired Dec. 21 at midnight.
As funding wasn’t sanctioned for those agencies, they were partially shut down
.
Who are affected?
The Shutdown does not affect the entire government. Government functions relating to emergency and disaster assistance, protection of federal property, activities “essential to ensure continued public health and safety” and activities like criminal investigations, air traffic control continue to operate during the shutdown with a reduced workforce.
Federal workers deemed “essential” are required to work without pay while others get furloughed or placed on temporary leave. In both cases, they remain unpaid until spending is sanctioned
More than 800,000 federal workers in nine different departments, as well as several federal agencies are affected by the Shutdown.Of the 800,000 employees, 380,000 have been furloughed without pay while the rest are still working without pay. The departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, State, Transportation and Treasury have been affected by the current shutdown.
How Many Shutdowns have there been?
There have been 21 federal government shutdowns since the modern budgeting process began since 1976.
Shutdowns cost the government money
The Office of Management and Budget estimates, during the 2013 shutdown, lost productivity cost the federal government $2 billion in payroll alone. A report by Pew Research Centershows the 1995-1996 shutdowns are estimated to have cost the federal government approximately $2.1 billion when adjusted for inflation.
Employees get Back Pay
Employees who remain on the job are guaranteed to be paid. In past partial shutdowns, federal employees who were furloughed also were paid later.
Social Security and Other Benefits
Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps and some other programs’ spending is not dependent on Congress’s explicit funding.
Recipients of these programs will continue to receive their benefits.
The Mails Will Continue to Arrive.
Postal Service employees (About 500,000) are exempt from furlough because the Postal Service is self-funded.
The writer is Consulting Editor, AmaderNotunShomoy