If none of the 12 appropriations bills that make up the federal discretionary spending budget passes both chambers, the government fully shuts down. However, in an unusual move, the White House Office of Management and Budget is not posting agencies’ shutdown contingency plans on its website. More than 500,000 federal workers could be working without pay, while another 480,000-plus could be furloughed, according to Snyderman. Federal workers are guaranteed to receive their back pay after an impasse is resolved, thanks to a 2019 law. Shutdowns can have real consequences for the economy since federal spending is delayed, and many federal workers pull back on their purchases while they aren’t receiving paychecks.