Source: The Hill
by Cheryl Kelley
“Congress is threatening another ‘government shutdown’ as the September 30 deadline approaches. But here’s what most Americans don’t understand: Government has never shut down. Not once. What people call “shutdowns” affect only the most visible, least essential [sic] services. The actual machinery of government continues operating normally during shutdowns. … What does shutdown theater actually cost taxpayers? Lost Productivity, for starters. The 2013 shutdown cost $2.5 billion in back pay to 850,000 furloughed employees who missed a combined 6.6 million work days. All that productivity was permanently lost, since they were paid for work not performed. Shutdowns also result in special expenses specifically related to preparing for shutdowns.” (09/29/25)