The U.S. government is less than 48 hours away from running out of funding, leaving the idea of a government shutdown looming in the minds of many.
Members of the U.S. Congress reached a bipartisandeal on Tuesday to temporarily avoid a major shutdown, keeping the government open through at least mid-March. However, President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican lawmakers and influencers have spoken against Congress’ plan.
With a potential government shutdown on the horizon, here’s what you need to know and what Iowa lawmakers are saying about it.
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass, or the president refuses to sign a spending bill to fund the federal government’s operations.
The federal government’s coffers, or the money the government has available to spend, resets every year on Oct. 1, requiring Congress to pass annual legislation that funds crucial programs. This fall, lawmakers extended funding levels until Dec. 20 due to the presidential election.
Lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement Tuesday and released the text of a bill to continue funding the federal government. In addition to extending government funds, the bill includes more than $100 billion for hurricane relief efforts, health care measures to lower drug costs, pay raises for members of Congress and more.
However, the more than 1,500-page bill has been met with criticism, primarily from conservatives upset over the extent of the funding package’s add-ons.
“Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH,” Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance wrote in a joint statement on Wednesday. “If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF.”
Republican lawmakers and Trump confidants Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, whom Trump tapped to lead a temporary agency called the Department of Government Efficiency, have echoed the president-elect’s sentiment.
“This bill should not pass,” Musk wrote in one of several X posts Wednesday calling for lawmakers to reject the resolution.
The disapproval from Trump and other prominent GOP members has cast doubt on the likelihood of the funding being extended by Friday night. Trump later threatened Republican lawmakers of supporting the spending measure with primary opposition in the next election.
After Trump and other prominent politicians have come out against passing government funding to avoid a shutdown, some Iowa lawmakers have weighed in on the president-elect’s stance.
Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson wrote in an X post Thursday morning that she supports Trump’s stance on the government funding situation.
“We should move a clean [continuing resolution], address the debt ceiling, provide disaster relief, extend the farm bill, and give our farmers much-needed aid,” Hinson wrote. “Let’s clear the decks and get it done to give President Trump the running start we need to Make America Great Again.”
Hinson has advocated for keeping year-round E-15 in the bill and ensuring that the farm bill is extended.
“I advocated for that year-round E15 to be included in the year-end legislation alongside disaster relief, because I think it’s about making sure our producers have the support that they need right now,” she told reporters on a call Thursday.
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra wrote on X Thursday morning that he “stands with President Trump” and “supports his efforts to cut wasteful spending and strengthen our economy.”
During a government shutdown, federal employees classified as “nonessential” are sent home and paid once the government reopens. “Essential” workers – those necessary to keep the most crucial elements of the federal government functioning – would keep working and receive their pay, though they might not get it right away.
About 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days during the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown in 2018 and 2019.
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits are considered essential and would continue, though it might be harder to get through to representatives for assistance during a shutdown. Other key benefit programs, such as military veterans programs and food programs, would also continue.
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The U.S. military and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and prison staff, as well as the Secret Service, Coast Guard and border security agents, would also keep working.
National parks and monuments would close to the public, and it may be harder to get other government services, like assistance with passports and visas, during a closure. Child care programs like Head Start would be left without funding.
Airport security and air traffic controllers would keep working, but there could be airline delays due to absenteeism.
Register reporter Sabine Martin contributed to this report.
Riley Beggin covers Congress and campaigns for USA TODAY. Reach her at rmbeggin@usatoday.com
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
