Editor’s note: A previous version of this story ran in December 2024. This story has been updated with the most recent numbers provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
A government shutdown could furlough thousands of federal workers both in Indiana and around the nation if Congress doesn’t approve a short-term bill to keep the government running.
Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but a temporary measure keeping the government open would require at least 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate, meaning some Democratic votes are needed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both New York Democrats, have rejected a short-term bill, demanding that any legislation undo recent Republican cuts to healthcare programs.
Trump summons both parties 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.
When could the federal government shut down?
Without passage of funding legislation, parts of the government will close Wednesday, Oct. 1, the first day of the U.S. government’s 2026 fiscal year.
How many federal government employees are there in Indiana?
The federal government employs roughly 2.3 million civilians across the country. There are 24,499 federal civilian employees in Indiana — 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.
When was the last government shutdown?
The federal government has shuttered 21 times since 1977, most recently from December 2018 to January 2019.
How long do government shutdowns last?
It varies. Of all the shutdowns, the longest took place the last time Donald Trump was president, which lasted more than a month and cost the economy about $3 billion. The average number of days among all shutdowns since 1977 is eight.
Government shutdowns: What was the longest government shutdown? See how long each past shutdown lasted.
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.
How would a government shutdown affect national parks?
Thousands of park rangers are expected to be furloughed ahead of a potential government shutdown. In previous occasions when that happened, the National Park Service said it would close the majority of national parks and leave visitors with limited resources.
Indiana Dunes National Park tourism staff previously said its visitor center at the park is owned by Porter County government and would remain open. The Indiana Dunes State Park, which is not operated by the federal government, previously told IndyStar it would also remain open during a government shutdown.
Is mail service or the post office impacted by a government shutdown?
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.”
Government shutdowns in Indiana: How the last government shutdown impacted Indiana housing programs, national parks.
IndyStar reporter Brittany Carloni contributed.
Terry Moseley is a Managing Editor and Trending journalist for USA TODAY.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Looming government shutdown to impact thousands of Indiana employees