Many parts of the federal government shut down just after midnight on Wednesday after Congress was unable to approve a new funding bills.

This process will delay paychecks to millions of Americans working for the federal government and could impact University of Maryland community members as the government experiences delays.

As part of the shutdown, about 750,000 employees are at risk of being furloughed a day, halting an estimated $400 million in compensation each work day, according to a letter from the Congressional Budget Office.

Here are some things to know about the shutdown.

Government shutdown basics

A government shutdown happens when Congress is unable to agree on approving funding bills for federal agencies and programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the National Institute of Health, the Department of Education and the Armed Forces.

With the new fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1, the only way the government would have avoided a shutdown is if the Senate passed a Democratic spending bill on Tuesday night. It would have allowed an extension of federal funds for seven weeks while Congress makes a decision, the Associated Press reported.

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Federally-funded research

A government shutdown typically does not stop ongoing federally-funded research, but it is not impossible. If the university’s research administration office or federal sponsors notify a researcher to stop, the work must cease immediately and no expenses will be recognized, according to an article from Maryland Today, which is produced by this university’s marketing and communications office.

Patrick O’Shea, this university’s vice president of research, issued guidance Tuesday for the impacts of the shutdown on university research.

The proposal review process will be delayed, but principal investigators should continue to meet deadlines set in their awards, the guidance read.

Financial aid

Federal student aid programs like loans and Pell Grants will typically not be affected since most aid is funded a year in advance, according to the American Council on Education

But students in the process of applying for loan forgiveness, new aid or grant renewals may be delayed since the Department of Education suspends employees during shutdowns, according to Maryland Today.

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About 87 percent of the total education department employees, or 2,117 people, are planned to be furloughed, according to education secretary Linda McMahon’s contingency plan for the department.

Federal agencies are also unable to issue new grants and contracts for the duration of the shutdown.

International and veteran students

Visa and passport applications will continue to be backlogged, and changes to visa status are likely to be delayed due to staff furloughs. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office will remain open. 

The GI Bill, which provides education and training benefits to assist eligible veterans pay for college, will likely not be revoked, but there could be delays.

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Past shutdowns

This shutdown is the first in nearly seven years. The last time the government experienced a partial shutdown was from late December 2018 through late January 2019, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The shutdown delayed over $18 billion in federal spending for compensation.

Timeframe

The official timeline of the shutdown is unclear. The longest government shutdown in history lasted 35 days and happened during President Donald Trump’s first term, according to the Associated Press. 

The long-term effects of a shutdown depend on its length. The shortest recorded government shutdowns occurred in the 1980s and only lasted one day.