Will the Federal Government Shut Down?

The federal government is facing a shut down if Democrats and Republicans cannot find some common ground to pass a spending bill before April 8. It's unclear who or what a shutdown would affect in the end, but it would likely have only negative repercussions for Americans. Recent reports indicate that just $6 billion in spending is the different between the parties in a budget that tops $3 trillion. So with this threat looming, what are the chances the government will actually be shut down?

Needless to say, much of the negotiating and compromising among members of Congress goes on behind closed doors, therefore no one can accurately predict whether a bill will be passed by April 8 avoiding a shutdown. However, experts in Washington's budget and policy issues have a pretty good idea.

Unfortunately for those looking to avoid being affected by a shutdown, a majority of 36 experts polled by the Fiscal Times, agree that a shutdown is likely. Just 13 of the 36 believe that a shutdown will be avoided, and for a variety of reasons. If the majority is correct, the duration of a shutdown will make all the difference in its impact on Americans.

Every day a shutdown drags on affects many federal workers, people attempting to make use of a variety of government agencies and services, and businesses who have found a niche due to a government-funded program, destination, or service. However, essential agencies and services will not be shut down. Non-essential government functions will, but how "non-essential" will be defined and applied will remain unknown until the shutdown is begins because the actual shut down plan is kept secret.

According to the experts, it appears the plan will no longer be a secret on April 8.

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