Lawmakers are racing to find a way to prevent an impending government shutdown after President-elect Donald Trump halted a bipartisan temporary funding bill on Wednesday by instructing Republicans to reject it.

Much like any household or business, the federal government is obligated to settle its financial commitments. Without consensus in Congress regarding budget allocations, the government faces the prospect of a shutdown.

This past Tuesday, legislators came to a bipartisan deal on a temporary three-month funding resolution to avert a shutdown and prevent thousands of federal employees from being furloughed during the holiday season.

The legislation is extensive, spanning over 1,500 pages. It features several additional provisions, including over $100 billion in disaster relief for hurricane-affected states, healthcare initiatives aimed at reducing drug costs, and salary increases for Congress members, according to YSL News.

Current government funding is set to expire on Friday evening, coinciding with Congress’s break for the holiday recess. If a funding bill isn’t approved by that time, the shutdown will commence at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.

Here’s what occurs during government shutdowns:

The impact of a government shutdown

In the event of a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees categorized as non-essential will be furloughed or required to stay home without pay.

Workers recognized as essential for crucial operations in fields like defense, energy, and agriculture will continue to work, albeit without pay, but will receive back pay later.

History of government shutdowns

Since 1977, the federal government has experienced 21 shutdowns, accumulating a total of 162 days off. This results in an average of nearly eight days for each shutdown.

The president with the longest shutdown history is Jimmy Carter, who oversaw 56 shutdown days across five separate incidents from 1977 to 1979. Bill Clinton follows with 26 shutdown days in 1995.

The analysis indicates that the longest shutdown lasted 34 days during President Donald Trump’s administration, totaling 38 shutdown days overall.

“Republicans need to be strategic and firm,” Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance stated in a joint announcement on Wednesday. “If Democrats threaten a shutdown unless we concede to their demands, then we must call their bluff.”

Trump later warned Republican lawmakers who disregard his priorities in the government funding debate about potential primary challenges in the next election cycle, according to YSL News.