The NewsWorthy Special Edition: Politics, Power & the Price of a Shutdown
Oct 18, 2025
Join Jonathan Burks, Executive Vice President at the Bipartisan Policy Center, as he delves into the ongoing federal shutdown's unsettling impacts. He explains the complexities behind 'essential' worker designations and reveals which critical programs are suffering, like Medicare telehealth and WIC. Burks also tackles why shutdowns occur annually and how bipartisanship could be revitalized. With insights on the back pay debate and the uncertain path forward, this discussion highlights urgent matters that affect everyday Americans.
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Scale Of The Workforce Impact
- About 1.8 million federal employees are affected by the shutdown, with roughly 700,000 furloughed.
- Many others are working without pay and agencies may soon lack funds to continue paychecks.
2019 Law On Automatic Back Pay
- Congress changed the law in 2019 to make back pay automatic after shutdowns, covering furloughed workers.
- Many members of Congress were surprised by recent questions about whether that law applies now.
Who Declares 'Essential' Workers
- The president decides who is 'essential' during a shutdown and the legal definition leaves wide discretion.
- Presidents have varied between narrow and expansive interpretations over time.