If Congress fails to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) by the current deadline—midnight tonight, March 13, 2025, based on the date you provided—the federal government enters a shutdown. This happens because, under the Antideficiency Act, agencies can’t spend money without congressional appropriation. Here’s what occurs regarding federal employees in that scenario, focusing on actions to reduce staff:
Immediate Effects on Federal Employees
- Furloughs for Non-Essential Employees:
- When a shutdown begins, federal agencies stop all “non-essential” operations. Employees deemed “non-essential” (or “non-excepted”) are furloughed—essentially placed on temporary unpaid leave. Who’s non-essential? That’s determined by agency heads, guided by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and past precedent. For example, during the 2013 shutdown, about 850,000 of the roughly 2 million federal civilian employees were furloughed at its peak.
- Examples: Park rangers, IRS clerks, and many administrative staff often get sent home, while air traffic controllers and Border Patrol agents stay on as “essential.”
- Essential Employees Work Without Pay:
- Employees classified as “excepted”—those needed to protect life, property, or national security (e.g., FBI agents, TSA screeners, military personnel)—keep working but don’t get paid until the shutdown ends. A 2019 law guarantees they’ll get back pay eventually, but the delay can still hit hard.
- No New Hires or Contracts:
- Agencies halt hiring during a shutdown. If they were planning to onboard new staff to replace retirees or expand, that’s paused. Ongoing contracts might also stall, indirectly affecting federal workforces tied to private-sector support.
Reduction Actions Specific to a Shutdown
A shutdown itself doesn’t directly “reduce” the federal workforce in the sense of permanent layoffs—it’s a temporary suspension. However, here’s how it plays out in terms of workforce impact:
- No Permanent Cuts Without Legislation: A shutdown doesn’t fire people; it just stops paying them. Permanent reductions (like eliminating positions) require congressional action—either through appropriations bills cutting agency budgets or specific laws targeting staff levels. Without a CR, Congress isn’t passing anything, so no new cuts get enacted during the shutdown itself.
- Attrition Accelerates: Some employees, especially those furloughed or working without pay, might quit voluntarily. The uncertainty and financial strain can push people out, effectively shrinking the workforce without formal action. This happened in 2018-2019, when the 35-day shutdown led to higher-than-usual resignations, particularly at agencies like the FAA.
- Planning for Cuts Stalls: If the Trump administration or Congress had plans to reduce federal employees (say, through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE initiatives), a shutdown pauses that. Agencies can’t execute layoffs or reorganizations without funding to process them.
Context of Current Shutdown Risk (March 2025)
Given today’s date and the CR expiring tonight, posts on X and recent news suggest a GOP push for a year-long CR to freeze spending at 2024 levels, while Democrats want a shorter-term deal to negotiate full-year funding. If no deal is reached:
- Scale of Furloughs: Historical data suggests 40-50% of the 2.1 million federal civilian employees (excluding postal workers) could be furloughed—around 800,000 to 1 million people. Exact numbers depend on OMB’s latest guidance, which isn’t public yet for this scenario.
- DOGE Angle: Some speculate a shutdown could align with goals to shrink government (e.g., DOGE’s aim to cut staff), as furloughs might pressure non-essential workers to leave. But this isn’t a formal reduction—it’s a side effect.
Longer-Term Implications
If the shutdown drags on (like the 2018-2019 record of 35 days), indirect reductions grow:
- Morale and Retention: Federal workers, already facing potential layoffs from White House orders (e.g., plans due March 13 per X posts), might bail if they’re furloughed too long.
- Economic Ripple: Furloughed workers not spending hurts local economies, amplifying pressure on Congress to act—but not necessarily to cut jobs.
Bottom Line
A shutdown due to no CR doesn’t directly reduce federal employees through layoffs—it furloughs hundreds of thousands temporarily, keeps others working unpaid, and halts hiring. Permanent cuts need legislative action, which a shutdown delays. The real reduction comes if workers quit under the strain, but that’s not a planned action—it’s fallout. If you’re asking about intentional cuts tied to a shutdown, those aren’t automatic; they’d need a new law, and right now, Congress can’t even agree on keeping the lights on.
Antideficiency Act
The Antideficiency Act (ADA) is a U.S. federal law that’s all about controlling government spending and making sure federal agencies don’t blow through money they haven’t been given by Congress. It’s a cornerstone of fiscal responsibility—or, depending on your view, a bureaucratic straitjacket. Passed in 1870 and beefed up over time (notably in 1905 and 1950), it’s rooted in the Constitution’s Appropriations Clause (Article I, Section 9), which says no money can be spent from the Treasury unless Congress says so. Here’s the breakdown:
What It Does
The ADA has a few key rules to keep federal spending in check:
- No Spending Without Appropriation:
- Agencies can’t spend money—or commit to spending it—unless Congress has appropriated the funds. If there’s no budget or Continuing Resolution (CR) passed, like the situation you mentioned with a potential shutdown tonight, March 13, 2025, non-essential operations grind to a halt. This is why furloughs happen: no legal authority to pay people.
- No Overspending:
- Agencies can’t spend more than Congress gave them, whether it’s the total budget, a specific program’s allocation, or what’s available in a given fiscal year. If they do, it’s a violation, and heads can roll.
- No “Volunteering” Government Work:
- Agencies can’t accept free work or services to get around funding limits. This stops officials from, say, asking employees to work unpaid (beyond what’s allowed for “excepted” staff during shutdowns) or leaning on contractors to front costs.
- Time Limits on Funds:
- Money appropriated for a specific year or purpose can’t be stretched beyond its expiration date unless Congress explicitly says otherwise. This prevents agencies from hoarding cash or shifting it to unrelated projects.
Penalties
Breaking the ADA isn’t a slap on the wrist:
- Civil and Criminal Consequences: Violations can lead to fines, jail time (up to two years), or getting fired. For example, knowingly overspending is a misdemeanor.
- Reporting Requirement: If an agency messes up, they have to report it to Congress and the President via the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These reports are public—think of it as a fiscal walk of shame.
- Personal Liability: In rare cases, officials have had to repay funds out of their own pockets, though this is more historical than common today.
Why It Exists
Back in the 19th century, agencies were notorious for spending money they didn’t have, then begging Congress to cover the tab after the fact. This “coercive deficiency” pissed off lawmakers, who wanted control over the purse strings. The ADA was the fix—force agencies to live within their means and punish them if they don’t. It’s less about efficiency and more about power: Congress flexing its constitutional authority over spending.