From our nation’s founding in 1776, it was more than 200 years until the first federal government shutdown, in 1981. While there were a few more short-lived shutdowns afterwards, the 1995-1996 version, when Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton disagreed on federal spending, seemed to make shutdowns — and shutdown threats — accepted political tools.
Today, thanks to political polarization and razor thin majorities for whichever party is in power, both threatened and actual federal government shutdowns are on the rise. Since federal funding legislation has to pass both the House and the Senate, both parties have become used to using funding bills and continuing resolutions as vehicles for separate legislative priorities.
Yet, as both the threat and actual occurrence of shutdowns increase, so does the impact they have on the government workers who form the backbone of our public institutions.
The latest extensions from November’s continuing resolution created two deadlines that fall in early 2024. The first one, on January 19, applies to four funding bills: Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; Energy and water; military construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.
The second deadline on February 2 includes the eight appropriations bills covering everything else: Commerce, Justice, Defense, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, legislative branch and foreign operations.
Understanding Federal Government Shutdowns
Each year, the federal government undergoes budget resolutions to approve and fund the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. If a funding agreement can’t be reached, a federal government shutdown occurs, impacting two separate groups of employees — essential and non-essential.
When a government shutdown happens, almost all government employees don’t get paid (one notable exception is legislators themselves, who do still get paid). The difference is essential employees must still report to work.
One of the things people don’t always fully grasp is that the vast majority of federal workers, 2.87 million or 2% of the total workforce, are in non-political positions. That figure doesn’t include federal contractors, another 4 million workers, who also rely on the federal government for their jobs. Contractors usually aren’t paid during a work stoppage either.
So, the pay for millions of US workers is determined by the increasingly partisan behavior of 535 people in Congress.
The Toll on Federal Workers
An actual shutdown is a highly disruptive force that impacts government workers on multiple levels. Planning for the shutdown means deciding what services are essential, creating detailed shutdown plans, and trying to schedule projects to meet possible new deadlines. When the government shuts down, it can cause serious disruptions in all kinds of different processes, including investigations, studies, and FOIA requests, to name just a few.
The uncertainty surrounding pay and job security leads to wasted time, increased stress, and the possibility of major mental health challenges (the focus of part 2 of this blog series) as employees scramble to cope with the situation.
Especially for those without accessible emergency savings needed to meet financial obligations, many government workers face financial hardships during a shutdown. While retroactive pay is usually provided to government workers, it’s not guaranteed, and payments typically arrive weeks or months after the shutdown ends. Contractors are left unpaid and can resort to laying off employees to ease financial pressure.
The constant threat of a shutdown is not merely a bureaucratic inconvenience — it takes a toll on the health and efficiency of government workers. And as workers become more desensitized to shutdown threats, they can become overly complacent about making preparations, leading to further hardship if and when an actual shutdown occurs.
Healthy Preparation Strategies
In the face of recurring shutdown threats, it’s crucial for government workers to prepare both mentally and financially. Establishing an emergency fund, seeking financial advice, and exploring alternative income sources during uncertain times can help alleviate stress. Mental health support and counseling services should be readily available to aid workers in coping with the pressures associated with shutdowns.
Federal government shutdowns have far-reaching implications for the lives and well-being of government workers. As we navigate these uncertain times, it’s imperative to recognize the resilience of these professionals and explore proactive measures to mitigate the impact on their lives. By fostering a culture of preparedness and support, we can better equip government workers to weather the periodic storms of shutdowns and emerge stronger on the other side.
Russell Miller is Director of Implementation for Government Workforce Management, at OPEXUS. He has extensive experience providing implementation support for the HR Product Suite at OPEXUS. His expertise helps ensure products are delivered on time and on budget. He is passionate about using technology to improve the day-to-day functionality across government HR processes. In his free time, Russ enjoys Boston’s sport events, boating, and spending time with his family.
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