A government shutdown would affect thousands of federal workers in Indiana

Tens of thousands of federal workers in Indiana and across the country could be furloughed days before the holidays if congressional leaders don’t find a solution to avert a looming government shutdown.

A bipartisan deal that would have funded the government into March collapsed on Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump ordered Republicans to oppose it, leaving lawmakers struggling to find a solution on Thursday find before Congress adjourned.

The bill is more than 1,500 pages long and contains numerous additions. That includes more than $100 billion in disaster relief for hurricane-hit states, health measures to reduce drug costs and pay raises for members of Congress, USA TODAY reported.

When might the federal government close?

Current federal funding expires Friday evening as Congress is set to adjourn for the holidays. If no funding bill is passed by then, the shutdown would begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

▶ LIVE UPDATES:Is there a threat of a government shutdown? Republicans say they are making “progress”

How many federal government employees are there in Indiana?

According to the U.S. Census and U.S. Office of Personnel Management, there are 23,785 civilian federal employees in Indiana. Their average salary is $88,750.

When was the last government shutdown?

The federal government has closed 21 times since 1977, most recently in 2018.

How long do government shutdowns last?

It varies. Of all the shutdowns, the longest shutdown lasted during Donald Trump’s last presidency, lasting more than a month and costing the economy about $3 billion. The average number of downtime days since 1977 is eight.

Switch off:Timeline of more than 20 U.S. government shutdowns spanning nearly 50 years

Will government employees be paid during a government shutdown?

No. During a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers deemed nonessential are furloughed or sent home without pay.

Employees deemed essential to critical operations in defense, energy, agriculture and other sectors would continue to work, but without pay. You will be reimbursed later.

How would a government shutdown affect national parks?

Last year, thousands of park rangers were expected to be furloughed ahead of a possible government shutdown in September. The National Park Service announced at the time that it would close most national parks and provide limited resources to visitors.

Before the deadline, Indiana Dunes National Park tourism officials said the visitor center at the park is owned by the Porter County government and would remain open. Indiana Dunes State Park, which is not operated by the federal government, said it would then remain open even during a closure.

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A government shutdown would affect thousands of federal workers in Indiana

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