Impact on Federal Services
A government shutdown starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, could disrupt federal services, affecting everything from travel to social security, with essential workers like agents and air traffic controllers required to work without pay.
Services such as passport processing, small business loans, and benefit applications may face delays, while Social Security and Medicare checks will continue, albeit with potential impacts on administrative services.
Political Dynamics and Reactions
The shutdown stems from the abandonment of a bipartisan spending bill, influenced by opposition from President-elect and billionaire , despite previous congressional efforts to prevent the shutdown.
Trump, opposing the bipartisan bill, called for a more hard-line approach, while the and Democrats blame him and his allies for the shutdown crisis, emphasizing the need for a bipartisan deal to keep the government open.