So the US Government might “shutdown” tomorrow – but what does that mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to educate, keep reading…

Firstly, what’s causing this shutdown? The two houses of the US congress, The House of Representatives and The Senate, need to come to an agreement on the budget bill by tonight in order for government departments to keep operating. They’re clashing. The Republicans have attached a clause to the budget that would strip money from the health care law known as ‘Obamacare’, effectively killing it. President Barack Obama has refused to negotiate over his health care reforms and says he will veto any amended bill with the backing of the Democrats, who control the Senate. If an agreement isn’t reached, the government shuts down.

But what is a government shutdown? Think of the government as a car. Without fuel, a car won’t run. Some of the parts will still work, but it won’t be able to take you from A to B. The US governments’ fuel is money. Without money the government will stop, but some parts will still work. The military will still protect its people, the post office will still deliver letters and old people will still get their “social security checks.” However, less documents will be issued to allow foreigners to enter the country, poor people will stop getting food stamps, national parks will close and the government will stop monitoring the spread of disease.

The last time the US federal government shutdown was 17 years ago in 1995 – and it was shutdown for a full three weeks! It’s estimated that the shutdown could cost the US economy up to $2 billion with about 800,000 US Federal government workers being put on temporary unpaid leave.

[Source : Time, The New York Times, ABC]