Congress has yet to enact full-year appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to fund programs that operate on annual spending plans, which represent approximately one-quarter of government operations. As a result, the federal government entered a shutdown on October 1.

This means that federal agencies are required by law to cease non-critical activities and furlough non-essential employees until lawmakers reach a resolution. While some excepted federal employees—and nearly all military personnel—remain on duty, they could soon stop receiving paychecks unless they have funding outside of annual appropriations. Exempt employees—those whose pay is funded outside of the annual appropriations process—continue working and are paid.

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center ("a not-for-p

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