After Congress failed to pass a new spending bill, forcing operations that were deemed inescapable to close, the United States federal government shut down at 12:01 am East Coast time (4:01 GMT).
President Trump has threatened to use the impasse to force widespread federal employee layoffs.
Republicans and Democrats continue to disagree on spending priorities as they push for cuts to social programs, foreign aid, and healthcare.
Washington has not experienced this level of hostility before. Every US government shutdown since 1976, including how long they have existed, and which administration was in place, is depicted in the graphic below.
A government shutdown is what?
Parts of the federal government must close until a spending plan is approved in the event that Congress does not pass a budget agreement.
Because the government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30, shutdowns typically occur in October.
How frequently has the government been in office?
1976 was the start of the current budget process. The government has since experienced 20 funding gaps, which have caused 10 government shutdowns.
When Congress does not pass a budget or stopgap spending bill (also known as a continuing resolution), leaving the government without the authority to spend money, funding occurs.
- If temporary funding measures expire before a long-term agreement is reached, a single shutdown may result in multiple funding gaps.
- Only if the government’s operations actually cease as a result of this funding gap.
Prior to the 1980s, funding gaps did not typically result in shutdowns, and organizations continued to operate assuming funding would be restored soon.
Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issued legal opinions after 1980 stating that agencies are required to spend money without the approval of Congress. Only essential services, such as law enforcement, air traffic control, and national security, could continue.
Since 1982, funding gaps have more frequently resulted in complete or partial government shutdowns until the standoff is resolved by Congress.
The last government shutdown occurred when?
After President Donald Trump, who was in his first term, and Democratic politicians reached a deadlock over the president’s request for $5 billion in funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border, a demand that Democrats opposed, the government shutdown occurred in December 2018 and January 2019.
What shutdown lasted the longest?
Trump announced he had reached a tentative agreement with congressional leaders to reopen the government for three weeks while border wall negotiations continued, making the shutdown 35 days long, the longest in US history.
What transpires during a shutdown?
Nonessential federal services are suspended or reduced while a government shutdown occurs, and many government employees are furloughed or given unpaid leave.
While essential personnel, such as those in the military, law enforcement, and air traffic controllers, are required to continue working, frequently without pay, until funding is restored.
How are government shutdowns ended?
When Congress passes a continuing resolution that provides short-term funding while continuing negotiations for a longer-term budget, shutdowns are typically resolved.
Every shutdown has come to an end with the passage of a continuing resolution since 1990.
What services are being discontinued?
Nonessential federal employees, as well as people and businesses that rely on government services, are the main victims of a shutdown.
The nation’s top employer is the federal government. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by the Pew Research Center, it had a little more than 3 million workers as of November, or 1.9 percent of the civilian workforce.
About 750, 000 federal employees could be furloughed each day, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and their lost pay would add up to about $400 million per day if funding runs out in fiscal year 2026. Because some organizations may increase layoffs as the shutdown drags on longer while others may re-establish some employees, the exact number of furloughed workers may change over time.
Numerous services and organizations have been impacted by previous shutdowns, including:
- Monuments and national parks
- Federal museums
- Federal projects for research
- Processing of a number of government benefits
- IRS Taxpayer Services
What services are still in use?
Numerous essential government functions are still in operation even during a shutdown. Some continue because they are deemed necessary for public safety and welfare, while others are funded through self-sustaining or mandatory programs. Examples include:
- Medicare and Social Security benefits
- Federal law enforcement and the military
- US Postal Service
- Air traffic control
- US Passport Agency
