With the threat of a government shutdown looming, more than 4 million workers could be affected if Congress is not able to pass a spending bill before Sept. 30.
The last government shutdown occurred in December 2018 and went for 34 days before being resolved in January 2019, but now it seems that the U.S. could be facing another shutdown, this time, for who knows how long.
If the government does shut down, those deemed essential workers will be expected to report to work without pay.
After funding resumes, the government is required to pay federal employees and military personnel, but not federal contractors.
Federal employees not deemed essential workers would be furloughed from their positions, staying out of work until the funding measure is passed and the government reopens.
The power of deciding what workers are essential lies with each federal agency, though it typically includes law enforcement officers, national security agents, active duty military personnel, and federal prison guards.
For example, when looking at the Department of Defense in a potential shutdown situation, members of the military and federal law enforcement would continue working while civilian personnel would be furloughed.
Furloughed workers are restricted from doing any work during the shutdown, as they could face fines and even prison time under the Antideficiency Act.
While the IRS, the Postal Service, Social Security, Veterans Affairs benefits, and Medicare would continue to run, other agencies and programs would face the repercussions of a shutdown.
Workers outside Washington, D.C., at recreational facilities like museums and national parks will also be furloughed until funding is passed.
Some airports may also experience disruptions and delays thanks to a shutdown, as air traffic controllers threatened to walk-off the job during the 2018 strike after going weeks without pay.
Passport offices across the country could also be closed as a result of the shutdown.
Beyond workers, the shutdown would also impact federal aid programs, like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The WIC program is already struggling with funding, requesting $1.4 billion in emergency funding for the program last month.
If the government goes unfunded, nearly 10,000 children will also lose access to childcare starting in October.
Lastly, disaster relief programs would suffer from a government shutdown, leaving recovery efforts stalled or unstarted in communities affected by natural disasters.
While a shutdown has not yet happened, experts are pointing to the likelihood increasing as members of Congress continue to go back and forth.