What is a US government shutdown?

The US is facing another government shutdown after a subcommittee of Congress failed to pass a spending bill to keep government agencies open.

The funding will expire at midnight on Friday unless Republicans and Democrats can agree on a way forward.

Here’s an explanation of how we got here and what this means for the American people — and for Donald Trump.

Most state government agencies rely on annual appropriations authorized by Congress.

Every year, these agencies submit their requests, which must be passed by Congress, and the president must sign the budget law for the next fiscal year.

If an agreement is not reached, all non-essential, discretionary activities of the US government will stop.

In September, the two sides agreed on a bill to keep federal funding until December 20.

This week, three days before lawmakers begin recess, House Speaker Mike Johnson released a bill to extend funding through March.

It was agreed with the Democratic leadership, but it also included some measures such as raising the salaries of lawmakers, which made some Republicans unhappy.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is a friend of Trump, sent his objections and then the president-elect indicated that he wanted his party to kill it, which happened.

A second, watered-down bill reached the House floor Thursday night but failed to get enough votes to pass.

If no deal is reached by midnight, the US will have its first shutdown since early 2019.

Essential workers continue as normal, some without pay, while government workers deemed non-essential are placed on temporary unpaid leave.

Border protection, hospital medical care, law enforcement and air traffic control will continue to operate.

But services like the food assistance program, state-sponsored preschool, student loan forgiveness and food testing, and National Parks will be cut or closed.

While Social Security and Medicare checks are outsourced, benefit verification and card issuance stops.

There may also be travel delays if the stand-off lasts.

“Longer closures could mean longer wait times at airports,” said Transportation Security Administration spokesman Carter Langston.

Tesla’s boss has been tasked with identifying cost reductions by leading a proposed partnership with the Department of Government Works (DOGE).

It is not an official government department but it has vowed to get $2tn.

On Wednesday he made several posts on X, the platform he owns, to express his distaste for Mike Johnson’s debt.

Raising false statements about what was in the bill, he called it criminal and offensive.

After Musk began to object, Trump and JD Vance, the incoming vice president, faced off to keep Johnson’s deal that night.

They said in a joint statement that they want the legislation to be done well without the Democratic-backed provisions included by Johnson.

They also asked Congress to increase or eliminate the debt freeze, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay the debt.

Johnson has promised to find a solution by Friday so there will be plenty of wrangling on Capitol Hill as the clock ticks down.

But to get the necessary support in the House to pass, he will need the votes of the Democratic Alliance.

Democrats said they would only support the original bill that Trump and Musk opposed.

If no deal is reached US government agencies will shut down at midnight.

Quite normal. President Ronald Reagan oversaw eight closures during his administration — though all were short-lived.

And there were three when Donald Trump was president, including the longest in history at 36 days that ended in January 2019.

That happened because of disagreements over funding for a wall on the Mexican border.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that it reduces economic output for about $11bn, including $3bn it never recovered.

The budget shutdown is almost unique to US politics.

Under the US system, the different branches of government must reach agreement on spending plans before they become law.

In many countries, budget votes become votes of loyalty to the government itself. But because the US has equal and often separate branches of government, this is not the case.

Also known as the debt limit, this is a law that limits the amount of money the government can borrow to pay its debts.

This includes paying government employees, the military, Social Security and Medicare, as well as interest on the national debt and tax refunds.

Every now and then, the US Congress votes to raise or freeze the ceiling so that it can borrow more.

Trump adding this provision to the agreement was an unexpected requirement that made it difficult for right-wing Republicans who often oppose increased government spending to support the bill.

The debt ceiling would have to be increased in the coming months regardless of the promised performance.

But by demanding it happen now, some analysts believe that Trump is showing the cost of the proposed tax cuts and tighter border restrictions will test the limits of the ceiling. And he’d rather fight than escalate before he takes over.

Democrats have often allowed the debt to grow without strings but they are in no position to help Republicans right now.

The danger for Trump is that a small defection will only lighten the cloak of invincibility he has been wearing since the election.

And it raises questions about how his party will be able to deliver on his campaign promises that require legislation.