Government Shutdown

Mason Jones

During a government shutdown, all functionality of federal governments cease until a new funding legislation is put into law after it passes Congress and is signed by the President (Committee). Every year, federal government agencies propose budgets for annual funding, and funds from this budget are not allowed to be accessed during a government shutdown (Committee). What is described as “essential services,” like those aligned with public safety, continue to operate under a government shutdown. During past shutdowns, border protection, medical care (if one is actually staying in the hospital), air traffic control, law enforcement, and power grid maintenance have also remained functional due to being classified as essential (Committee). Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid function normally as well during a government shutdown (Committee). Federal employees continue to work without pay during a full government shutdown. During the government shutdown that began in late 2018 that continued into early 2019, an estimated 380,000 employees were furloughed, meaning that these people were laid off temporarily from their employment (Committee). National Park services, including the parks themselves and national monuments, are also affected by shutdowns. Damages to the park and trash buildup are the results from this event.

History of government shutdowns and their durations.

Below is a list of government shutdowns that have afflicted the U.S. over the past century:

· 1976 — President Gerald Ford; 10 days (All).

· 1977 — President Jimmy Carter; 5 government shutdowns happened under the Carter administration, lasting up to a total of 57 days (All).

· 1981 — President Ronald Reagan; 8 government shutdowns happened under the Reagan administration, lasting up to a total of 13 days (All).

· 1990 — President George H.W. Bush; 3 days (All).

· 1995 — President Bill Clinton; 21 days (All).

· 2013 — President Barack Obama; 16 days (All).

· 2018 — President Donald Trump; 3 government shutdowns happened under the Trump administration, lasting up to a total of 38 days (All).

The top 3 longest government shutdowns were under former President Carter, former President Clinton, and the current President Trump. Carter’s shutdown was caused by differences of opinion over the U.S. economy. Clinton’s government shutdown was due to the fact that Congress wanted to pass bills that reduced government spending, which Clinton did not agree with (All). The most recent shutdown headed by President Trump was caused by the differences of opinion of funding towards the President’s project of building a wall between the southern border of the U.S. and Mexico (Government).

Donald Trump and the government shutdown.

President Trump issued a government shutdown in December of 2018 because of the lack of funds being provided for his project of building a wall between the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Trump stated that he would keep the government shutdown “for a very long period of time — months or even years” until he received the funding for his plans (Trump). He was quoted, saying that he was “proud to shut down the government for border security,” and that “we could call a national emergency because of the security of our country…We may call a national emergency and do it very quickly” (Trump). In February of 2019, Trump did just that. The President decided that the overflow of criminal activity and illegal immigrants constituted his actions of calling a national emergency. There was a televised statement that Trump made sitting in the Rose Garden, where he says that “We’re going to confront the national security crisis on our southern border, and we’re going to do it one way or the other” (2019). He was later quoted, saying, “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster. I just want to get it done faster, that’s all” (2019). The government shutdown ended January 25 after a deal was made to reopen the federal government so negotiations can continue and federal workers could receive pay.

The Democratic Party’s reaction to the 2018–2019 government shutdown.

President Trump addressed the U.S. publicly on live television on January 8th, 2019 to discuss a “growing humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border” (Address). Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shortly after the President’s address appeared on television as well to speak on the government shutdown in response to the President. Pelosi said, “The fact is: President Trump has chosen to hold hostage critical services for health, safety and well-being of the American people….he promised to keep government shutdown for “months or years” — no matter whom it hurts. That’s just plain wrong” (Democratic). She continues on to describe the threat that Trump is depicting as “a humanitarian challenge — — a challenge that President Trump’s own cruel and counterproductive policies have only deepend” (Democratic). Schumer expresses his own opinions about the ordeal, saying President Trump governs with temper tantrums and fear. The Democratic Party would not falter in their stance on refusing to give President Trump the money he desired to build a wall, and wanted the President to reopen the government while negotiations continued so those who were victimized by the government shutdown could receive pay (Democratic).

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