Congress returned to work after the Labor Day holiday with less than a month before it faces a potential partial government shutdown on Oct. 1 if it fails to come to an agreement on new funding legislation. Thebalance of powerbetween Congress and President Donald Trump's White House is playing out in public hearings on Capitol Hill over two high-profile and controversial issues: the nation's vaccine policy and the independence of the Federal Reserve. Lawmakers say those divisive efforts could hurt a bipartisan push to avert a government shutdown. Republicans hold a 219-212 majority in the House of Representatives and a 53-47 edge in the Senate, which usually requires 60 votes to pass bills, meaning thatseven Democrats would need to support the legislation. In short, Trump doesn't have the votes, at least not yet. With the funding deadline less than a month away, here is what you need to know. More:Congress faces potential government shutdown Oct. 1 without compromise The current funding for the government expires at midnight on Sept. 30, with Oct. 1 being the potential start of a partial government shutdown. Since 1981, there have been14 partial government shutdowns, most of which lasted only a day or two, according to Reuters. One of the most recent shutdowns was also one of the longest, lasting 34 days betweenDecember 2018 and January 2019, during Trump's first term in office, due to a stalemate between the president and Congress over border security. Many federal government agencies and programs that rely on annual funding would be paused if Congress fails to pass or if Trump fails to sign the budget legislation. During a government shutdown,hundreds of thousands of federal workersdeemed nonessential would be furloughed until funding is passed, meaning they won't work and won't be paid. More:The Epstein files and a possible shutdown: Summer's over but the heat is on in Congress All active-duty U.S. military personnel stay on the job, but about half of the Pentagon's 800,000 civilian employees could face furloughs. Another part of the military that would remain on the job would be the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees nuclear weapons. Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA and prison staff will remain operational. The Secret Service and Coast Guard will continue their duties. National parks, monuments and other sites will close to the public, with rangers furloughed and facilities shut down. Some states may temporarily fund park operations, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown. Both retirement and disability benefits proceed without interruptions. Medicare and Medicare benefits also continue, but some delays could be seen due to a government shutdown. Similar to Social Security, veterans continue to receive their benefits and medical care. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will also continue, though there could be minor disruptions. Border Patrol and immigration enforcement agents will continue working. However, local governments will not receive new aid for migrant shelters. Airport security screeners and air traffic controllers will remain on duty, but new hires and some major infrastructure projects could face delays. Absenteeism, as seen in previous shutdowns, might impact airport operations. Each federal agency develops its own shutdown plan based on prior shutdowns and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. About 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days during thelongest-ever U.S. government shutdown in 2018 and 2019, as USA TODAY previously reported. Reuters and USA TODAY's Eric Lagatta contributed to this report. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:How will you be impacted if the US government shuts down on Oct. 1?