Prior to the shutdown, I offered up what typically happens in a partial government shutdown along with why they’ve become more frequent over the past 40 years. With the 21st partial shutdown, since budget rules were changed in 1976 making them more common, extending into 2019 here’s what’s really going on.
First, it’s important to remember that the federal government doesn't shut down. It prioritizes. During a partial federal government shutdown, there's a great deal of discretion regarding what stays open and what doesn't. Here’s what’s up right now, a quarter of the federal government is in “shutdown mode”. Nine federal departments and approximately 108 government agencies are impacted and 322 federal agencies aren’t impacted.
If you haven’t felt the impact of the shutdown this is the reason why. More than 300 federal agencies, hundreds more than likely you’d ever be able to name still operating, most people will never see, touch or feel the impact of this shutdown. Most of the drama is pointed at what could be of the greatest impact to you. For example, a national park or monument that might become inaccessible or the woe is the federal government employee stories. But the truth is this can and should be a teachable moment regarding how bloated our federal government is and how much room there would be to shrink it without you blinking.
It’s important to remember that the only mandated function of the federal government is to protect us and maintain basic infrastructure state-side. Only about 18% of federal spending fits into that realm. That means that approximately 82% of the entire federal government is not really needed for us to live our lives. It’s also not our responsibility to provide federal jobs and benefits to people. Regardless of what’s advanced by the MSM. This partial shutdown is a teachable moment. Hopefully people take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about what we’re really paying for in our federal government.
Photo by: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images