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Government shutdowns in the United States

In the United States, government shutdowns occur when funding legislation required to finance the federal government is not enacted before the next fiscal year begins. In a shutdown, the federal government curtails agency activities and services, ceases non-essential operations, furloughs non-essential workers, and retains only essential employees in departments that protect human life or property.[1][2] Shutdowns can also disrupt state, territorial, and local levels of government.

Funding gaps began to lead to shutdowns in 1980, when Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issued a legal opinion requiring it. This opinion was not consistently adhered to through the 1980s, but since 1990 all funding gaps lasting longer than a few hours have led to a shutdown. As of February 2024, 10 funding shutdowns have led to federal employees being furloughed.

The most significant include the 21-day shutdown of 1995–1996, during President Bill Clinton’s administration, over opposition to major spending cuts; the 16-day shutdown in 2013, during the Barack Obama administration, caused by a dispute over implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA);[3] and the longest, the 35-day shutdown of 2018–2019, during the Donald Trump administration,[4] caused by a dispute over expanding barriers on the U.S.–Mexico border.[5][6]

Shutdowns disrupt government services and programs; they close national parks and institutions. They reduce government revenue because fees are lost while at least some furloughed employees receive back pay. They reduce economic growth. During the 2013 shutdown, Standard & Poor's, the financial ratings agency, said on October 16 that the shutdown had "to date taken $24 billion out of the economy", and "shaved at least 0.6 percent off annualized fourth-quarter 2013 GDP growth".[7]

  1. ^ "The Odd Story of the Law That Dictates How Government Shutdowns Work". The Atlantic. September 28, 2013. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Cooper, Ryan (January 23, 2019). "Make government shutdowns impossible again". theweek. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Curry, Tom (September 29, 2013). "Chances of averting government shutdown appear slim". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  4. ^ Zaveri, Mihir; Gates, Guilbert; Zraick, Karen (January 9, 2019). "The Government Shutdown Was the Longest Ever. Here's the History". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  5. ^ "Government to shut down in fight over Trump's border wall". Reuters. December 22, 2018. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  6. ^ Matthews, Dylan (January 19, 2018). "Government shutdown 2018: All 18 previous government shutdowns, explained". Vox.
  7. ^ Walshe, Shushannah (October 17, 2013). "The Costs of the Government Shutdown". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2015.

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