If Congress does not pass a stopgap funding bill before the start of the new fiscal year, on October 1 (next Wednesday), certain government agencies and/or some of their programs will be forced to shut down. Thousands of federal workers could be furloughed, and ultimately laid off, while others would be required to continue working without pay. Many Americans would be unable to access government services.

Stopgap funding measures, better known as continuing resolutions (CRs), are routinely used by Congress to extend funding authorizations from the previous fiscal year and give appropriators more time to negotiate and pass regular, full-year appropriations bills. In the present situation, the Republican majority has proposed a CR that would extend current funding through November 21. The b

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