User’s manual to the government shutdown set to begin Wednesday

A government shutdown is all but assured to begin at 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday. 

The Senate will take a test vote to break a filibuster on a House-passed interim spending bill later today. But that needs 60 yeas. That means Democratic votes are necessary, and that’s why the government likely shuts down. 

The House is not even in session this week. 

Plus, Yom Kippur begins Wednesday night at sundown. That means the government is closed for a minimum of several days. 

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The last time the government shut down was in 2018-2019. That 35-day shutdown was the longest in history. 

The Trump administration will determine which agencies and services are essential. For instance, those in the military, national security and intelligence personnel remain on the job. 

Lawmakers must be paid, under the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. 

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The U.S. House of Representatives. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)

National Parks and museums usually close. However, the Postal Service continues to operate. Passport processing usually stops. Air traffic controllers continue to work. But they aren’t paid until there’s a resolution. The government continues to pay Social Security and other retirement or health benefits. But, there’s always the possibility that federal workers who process those checks could refuse to come to work if they’re not getting paid and a shutdown drags on. 

There’s often a tipping point in each government shutdown that triggers both sides to lay down their political swords and forge an agreement. That returns everyone to work. 

In 2013, U.S. Capitol Police officers were still on the job without pay when they got involved in a high-speed chase and shooting that started at the White House and wound up near the Hart Senate Office Building. Officers were injured in the mayhem. That prompted lawmakers from both sides to sober up and re-open the government.

Growing concern about aviation safety helped end a 2019 shutdown. Air traffic controllers worked for more than a month without pay. A small group of controllers elected to stay home. That prompted a temporary shutdown at LaGuardia Airport in New York….