Reporter’s Notebook: Why the next government shutdown could break the mold

The discovery of “government closure” in the federal wilderness is a rare scene.

Oh, people talk a lot about government closure. It is similar to the discovery of dribbling during safari in Africa. Ourora Purleles may spy on a trip to Quebec. You may find yourself in the “total area” to get the solar eclipse.

Many now be happy Capitol HillHe served in the federal government, to work for the current Trump administration Or that new students in Congress have never witnessed the closure of the government. You may not know exactly what to expect. After all, the Congress and the Presidency Administration had not had to get rid of government closure since 35 days closure in late 2018 and early 2019.

Group of garbage, the tours that will be hung in the Capitol Hill if there is a government closure

The American Capitol building appears from Freedom Plaza on September 7, 2025, in Washington, DC (Yasin Oztuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Every suspension is different. It is almost political certainty that the aspects are taken periodically, making the government closing. This was the case with the last one. president Donald Trump He demanded money for the border wall. The same thing with 16 -day closure to cancel Obamacare in 2013. Or even with a partial but important closure in late 1995, and extends to 1996, on discounts to health care and environmental spending.

Here is what we know about the last closure:

Federal employees, are not considered necessary, do not go to work. The army and those remain in national security in the job. However, payment for everyone in a state of not overcoming until the closure is settled. Anything is not essential. National gardens and museums are usually closed. However, the postal service continues to work. The passport treatment usually stops. Air traffic controller continues to work.

But they were not paid until there was a decision. The government continues to pay social security and other retirement or health advantages, but there is always the possibility of federal workers who treat these checks to work if they do not get their salaries and the closure continues.

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A closed mark is displayed at the entrance to the national archives in Washington, on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, as the partial government closes extends to its third week. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

There is often a turning point in every government closure that provokes the sides of the setting of their political swords and the formation of an agreement. This brings everyone back to work.

In 2013, the Capitol police officers in the United States were still working without pay when they were involved in a high -speed hunt and shooting began in the White House and ended up near the Senate Office building in Hart. The officers were injured in chaos. This prompted legislators from both sides to the sober and reopening the government.

The increasing concern about aviation safety helped end the closure of 2019. Air traffic monitors worked for more than a month. A small group of elected control units to stay at home. This prompted a temporary closure at the La Gardadia airport in New York. Issues were also achieved in Newark, New Jersey, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Fear of a large air disaster prompted legislators and the first Trump administration to end the closure.

Congress differs from the rest of the federal government. This is because the first article, Article 5 of the Constitution allows the preparation of its own rules. The House of Representatives and the Senate usually meets during the closure. But listening sessions are often postponed. Legionships continue to earn their salaries. This is because the twenty -seventh amendment prohibits “changing compensation” legislators without overlapping elections. Some legislators indicate that they will not accept wages during the closure. They may try to postpone their compensation or even donate them to charities.

The American Capitol Building in Washington, DC with an American flag flying. (Samuel Corome/Getty Emose)

Congress employees are pushed, but not until the closure ends.

all house The Senate Office works as an independent entity within Congress. Therefore, legislators decide who must come to work and not. Some legislators determine that one of the assistants or only two “necessary”. Others claim that they represent 750,000 people in the Congress. Therefore, all its employees are “necessary”.

But the Congress Foundation makes decisions on the operations of the Capitol Hill.

The United States, the Capitol Police remains in the service. But restaurants, cafera and shaving shops are closed during the closure. The guardian is supervised. This means that garbage and garbage around the Capitol have not been collected. Official rounds of Capitol are suspended. The science office – which deals with voter requests is closed to fly flags at the top of the Capitol on behalf of school groups or old warriors.

Who prevails in closing the government? It is difficult to measure political benefit. It is widely believed to be the previous one President Bill Clinton He won his confrontation with former Parliament Speaker Newt Gingrich, R Ga, in 1995-1996. Clinton easily installed for his re -election in the fall of 1996. GIPIRICH was bleeding in Capitol Hill after closing. But Gingrich got major spending reforms eventually resulted in a federal surplus a few years later. Republicans maintained control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1996.

Bill Clinton attends an evening with President Bill Clinton and James Patterson: “The First Man” on 92ny on June 11, 2025, in New York City. (Rob Kim/Getty Emose)

Senator Ted CruzR-TEXAS, Designed to close 2013 to cancel obamacare. Obamacare is still the Law of the Earth. Cruz won his re -election in 2018. Democrats did not turn the House of Representatives in the middle of the period 2014, with the Republicans the majority of them expanded. The Republican Party has gained control of the Senate.

The operation of 2018-2019 began even before the House of Representatives and the Senate Junior are divided in the first place 2018. So the abolition of the political impact of this particular closure is difficult. A group of other factors-including the Covid-19–was much larger than closing by the time when we reached November 2020. Trump lost his re-election that year. Democrats maintained control of the House of Representatives in 2020, and the Democrats of the Senate turned a little.

But each stop is slightly different. He has his own signature. The closure during Trump’s second term may be contrary to any other suspension.

The closure during Trump’s second term may be contrary to any other suspension. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

White House Budget Director Ross Fair issued a note this week, indicating that there may be collective release if Congress credits decrease and federal employees work on programs that do not deal with the priorities of the Trump administration.

Senator Chris van Holin, DMD, who represents tens of thousands of federal workers outside Washington, DC, described this as “blackmail similar to the mafia.”

“Do you see the OMB note as a threat to make you, comrades, you are retreating or trick?” Really asked the leader of the minority in the House of Representatives, Hakim Jeffrez, DN.Y.

“We will not be afraid by Ross Fion, who is completely out of control.” “Our response to Russian Vogue is simple: get lost.”

In X, Jeffrez called a “malicious political penetration”.

At this stage, the aspects do not circulate the offers. Only criticism.

For this reason, political observers believe that the chances of closing next week are astronomer. Either Democrats really take it on the chin – and accept the draft law of the Republican Party. Or the Republican cave.

“We will not change our position. This is our position,” said Senator Bernie Moreno,

Senator John Vitirman, De Pa. , The only democratic that supported the Republican plan last week in the Senate.

Senator John Vitman at the Edward M. Kennedy for the US Senate on June 2, 2025, in Boston. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

“If anyone believes that we are on the missiles, then the missiles have taken off to tyranny, then why will we surrender a closed government to President Trump or end in Omb?” Vitman doubted.

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In nature, it is rare to discover AdDax. Amur Leopard. A red wolf.

Government closure is also rare. But you may discover a closure in the wild soon. You may have seen until another government closure before. But perhaps not stop like this one.