Who will blink to end this ‘shutdown?’ How previous lapses ended

Visitors walk near the US Capitol on September 24. Nathan Howard/Reuters

Government “shutdown” is something of a misnomer because when funding lapses, much of the government does not shut down .

Lawmakers failed to pass spending bills on time, but Social Security checks and Medicare payments will continue since those appropriations are not covered by the annual funding process. Veterans’ health care will continue. Border Patrol will continue their efforts and so will the National Weather Service. Most of the military and national security apparatus will continue to show up for work.

There will be hiccups in daily life for Americans and real headaches for the federal workers who are furloughed or who work without pay during the funding lapse, although the government has generally mad