The United States federal government stands on the precipice of its third shutdown in the span of a decade, as congressional negotiations show little promise of reaching a resolution before the midnight deadline on Sunday. The looming threat of a government shutdown prompts concerns about its potential duration, especially considering the most recent shutdown, which extended from December 21, 2018, to January 25, 2019, and holds the record as the longest in U.S. history. During that period, hundreds of thousands of federal employees were either furloughed or forced to work without pay.
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Historical Perspective on Government Shutdowns Since the enactment of the current budget process in 1976, there have been 20 instances of funding gaps lasting at least one full day, according to the Congressional Research Service. In the years before the 1980s, it was customary for the government to continue functioning normally when funding bills were yet to be passed. However, a significant shift occurred in 1980 and 1981 when Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issued two opinions declaring it illegal for the government to expend funds without congressional approval.
Professor Roy Meyers, an emeritus in political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, notes that since then, there have been instances of relatively short funding gaps lasting two or three days, but also three notably prolonged ones, all characterized by political significance and all stemming from Republican-led actions.
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The Longest Government Shutdowns in U.S. History The most recent extended government shutdown took place from 2018 to 2019 and spanned an astonishing 34 full days, setting a new record as the longest in U.S. history. It centered on the funding dispute for President Trump’s border wall and ended with Trump signing a bill to reopen the government without his demands being met. Before that, the record for the longest shutdown stood at 21 days in 1995 and 1996 when President Bill Clinton resisted steep spending cuts and tax reductions proposed by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Clinton garnered public support during this standoff, ultimately causing Republicans to capitulate.
A relatively shutdown-free period followed until 2013 when Republicans used budget negotiations in an attempt to defund the Affordable Care Act. Their efforts, however, backfired, leading to a 16-day government shutdown before Republicans conceded and the government reopened.
Acknowledging the Political Costs Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged on September 19 that public opinion has historically not favored Republicans during government shutdowns. He stated, “I’m not a fan of government shutdowns. I’ve seen a few of them over the years. They never have produced a policy change and they’ve always been a loser for Republicans politically.” This recognition underscores the complex dynamics and consequences surrounding government shutdowns as the nation grapples with yet another impending closure of its federal agencies and services.
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