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Monday, April 25, 2011

Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts


Clinton T. Brass
Analyst in Government Organization and Management

In the event of a funding gap, the potential impacts of a government shutdown will depend on a program’s or agency’s specific circumstances and how relevant law is interpreted. The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to funding gaps and the processes and effects that may be associated with a government shutdown.

Policy areas identified include 
  • agencies and programs funded by specific regular appropriations bills; 
  • cross-cutting shutdown issues; 
  • domestic social policy-related programs and agencies; 
  • foreign affairs, defense, and trade-related programs and agencies; 
  • general government-related programs and agencies; and 
  • resources, science, and technology-related programs and agencies. 
For questions concerning the impact of a shutdown on a specific agency or program that is not listed here, see the contact information for the listed “coordinators,” who will help to identify the relevant subject matter expert. See also the notes for Table 1 for additional CRS resources.

For information about the status of funding for particular agencies and programs, see the CRS “Appropriations Status Table” at http://crs.gov/Pages/AppropriationsStatusTable.aspx. Under the “Regular Appropriations” tab, the left-hand column lists the CRS reports that cover each appropriations bill. The end of each report contains contact information for CRS subject matter experts who cover agencies and programs that are funded by each bill; see a report’s “Key Policy Staff” table and list of authors, as applicable. To locate a specific agency or program within an appropriations bill, see CRS Report R40858, Locate an Agency or Program Within Appropriations Bills, by Mary Frances Bley.

For an annotated list of resources related to past government shutdowns, see CRS Report R41759, Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources, by Jared Conrad Nagel and Justin Murray.

For information about funding gaps, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview, by Jessica Tollestrup.

For general information about the causes, processes, and effects of government shutdowns, see CRS Report RL34680, Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects, by Clinton T. Brass.



Date of Report: April 12, 2011
Number of Pages: 7
Order Number: R41723
Price: $19.95

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