The threat of a government shutdown looms over the U.S. this week as members of Congress continue to reject a short-term bill that would keep the government running.
Though Republicans control both chambers of Congress, a temporary measure keeping the government open would require at least 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate, meaning some Democratic votes are needed.
The shutdown could furlough thousands of federal employees in Illinois and across the nation if Congress doesn’t come to an agreement. Here’s what we know.
How many federal employees are there in Illinois?
The federal government employs roughly 2.3 million civilians across the country. There are 45,213 federal civilian employees in Illinois – not including uniformed military personnel or federal contractors, according to the Congressional Research Service.
A report the agency published Sept. 12 cites numbers provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management whose latest figures are dated from September 2024.
Trump summons congressional leaders to White House
President Donald Trump has summoned congressional leaders from both parties to a White House sit down on Monday, Sept. 29, to find a resolution ahead of the looming shutdown.
Why is a government shutdown looming?
While House Republicans passed a spending bill on Sept. 19 to extend the current funding until Nov. 21 to give lawmakers some breathing room to approve funding legislation for the full fiscal year, Democrats blocked approval in the Senate where a 60-vote majority is required to overcome a filibuster. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate.
Democrats are asking to reverse the upcoming cuts to Medicaid and lapsing Obamacare subsidies that could affect millions of Americans, but Republicans voted down legislation to do that, saying that such a move would add a trillion dollars to spending over the next 10 years. The Democrats’ bill also would have prevented the White House from withholding money appropriated by Congress.
Congressional Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York tried to meet with President Donald Trump last week but he declined Sept. 23, calling their demands unrealistic.
“This is an attempt at intimidation,” Schumer said in a statement. “Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since Day One ‒ not to govern, but to scare.”
When is the government shutting down?
Funding runs out on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and if a deal is not made and approved, non-essential federal agencies will shut down after midnight, Oct. 1.
How many US government shutdowns have there been? How long do they last?
The federal government has closed down 21 times since 1977, with each shutdown averaging about eight days.
When was the last government shutdown?
The most recent shutdown lasted for 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019, during Donald Trump‘s first term as president.
Do government employees get paid during a government shutdown?
No. During a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers, those deemed nonessential, are furloughed, or sent home without pay.
Employees who are classified as essential for critical operations in defense, energy, agriculture, and other sectors would continue to work, but without pay. They are reimbursed later.
Is mail delivered during government shutdowns?
The U.S. Postal Service would be unaffected during a government shutdown because it does not depend on Congress for funding. An online statement posted in September 2023 by USPS said their “operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual.”
Zachary Schermele, Bart Jansen and Zac Anderson contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Government shutdown 2025: How it could affect federal employees in Illinois