U.S. Government shutdown explained: What it means for travellers

Recently we saw news of the “U.S. government shutdown” that left the world shocked. It took the internet by storm and left people wondering across the globe as to what it means and how it is going to affect the international political scenario, considering the superpower the U.S. is. So, let’s understand first what "government shutdown” means here. The U.S. Government Shutdown happens when Congress and the President fail to agree on laws that offer money to run federal agencies. Without those spending laws, either the 12 regular appropriations bills or a short-term stopgap called a continuing resolution — many government programs lose the authority to legally spend money. They can’t scale back so they need to pause operations. According to congress.gov website, “If a funding gap begins and funding does not appear likely to resume during the first calendar day of the gap, the federal government generally begins a "shutdown" of affected activities.”In more clear words, there comes a funding gap that forces parts of the federal government to stop doing non-essential work until lawmakers pass new legislation.Understanding Antideficiency Act: The reason the government can’t keep spendingAntideficiency Act: As per the rule, federal agencies may not obligate or spend money unless Congress has approved funds. That legal restriction stops agencies from continuing most activities. What stays open and what doesn’tHowever, not all government work stops as Social Security and Medicare benefits are not subject to the national debt. These work fine as they don’t rely on this act. All essential public-safety activities also remain uninterrupted such as air traffic controllers, border security, military, and federal law enforcement. But employees often work without pay during the shutdown.So mostly a huge amount of discretionary work funded on yearly basis is either stopped or reduced. This includes closure of national parks, it impacts research works, grant programs, visa and passport processing delays, among others. How it impacts employees and payFurloughs and pay delays: During this time, thousands of government employees can be furloughed (temporarily sent home) or required to work without pay. Public disruptions: It can interrupt passports or visas. The process can be delayed and slower permitting and grant disbursements, closed national parks and museums, delayed approvals, and interruptions to services that rely on federal staffing or oversight. How it hits economy: HistoryShutdowns have significant economic effects. The Congressional Budget Office and other analysts estimate shutdowns slow government spending, delay projects and contracts, and can shave GDP growth during the quarter in which they occur. In 2018–2019, there was a partial shutdown for 35 days, it cost the economy billions as even small shutdowns can harm .Impact on travel and international — including IndiaThere’s no doubt that travellers feel shutdown effects first. While airports and air travel remain operational, passengers may face longer wait times and slower processing because of staff shortages. Passport and visa services are affected and are usually delayed, which is particularly important for travellers. During past shutdowns, U.S. consulates abroad — including those in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata) — experience processing slowdowns depending on available staff and funding. This clearly means visa appointment backlogs. Indian airlines and tour operators offering U.S.-bound services may also report disruptions in schedules, bookings, and customer assistance due to uncertainty. What happens after shutdown endsA shutdown ends only when Congress passes, and the President signs appropriations legislation or a continuing resolution to restart funding. Afterward, federal workers come back and programs that were paused usually resume. However some can face lasting delays. History of shutdownIt is not the first time that a shutdown has happened in the U.S. It keeps happening when lawmakers don’t agree on money. The longest recent shutdown ran 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019 which affected thousands of employees in the U.S.It is important to understand here that a government shutdown is not a complete shutdown as many important functions continue without disturbance. The main cause is political: when Congress and the President fail to enact appropriations. During this time, it is important to know which services are mandatory.(Disclaimer: The information is taken from https://www.congress.gov/)