What to Know About a Government Shutdown

Some essential workers are not furloughed and continue with the basic duties of government, such as protecting the homeland.

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Sept. 30, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Unless Congress funds the government past Dec. 20, there will be a shutdown. Such an occurrence could have major ramifications, though it may not be all doom and gloom.

The longest shutdown was 34 days during the Trump administration between December 2018 and January 2019.