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Posted 9/30/2023, 12:11:00 AM

A History of U.S. Government Shutdowns: How Partisan Standoffs Have Led to Repeated Closures

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history was in 2018-2019 and lasted 34 days. It was over Trump's demands for border wall funding.
Before that, the record for longest shutdown was 21 days in 1995-1996 during a standoff between Clinton and Gingrich.
The third longest was 16 days in 2013 when Republicans tried unsuccessfully to defund Obamacare.
Attorney General opinions in the 1980s established that government shutdowns were necessary without congressional budget approval.
Government shutdowns have historically backfired on Republicans and failed to produce policy changes.

cbsnews.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/16/2023

Congress moves toward a short-term funding bill to quell fears of a shutdown

Main Topic: Congress likely to pass a short-term government funding bill to avoid a shutdown this fall. Key Points: 1. Speaker Kevin McCarthy believes a short-term funding bill is necessary due to lack of time for a full-year funding deal. 2. The length of the stopgap bill and policy terms still need to be agreed upon by congressional leaders. 3. The House and Senate are moving in different directions on appropriations, with the House seeking spending cuts and conservative policy provisions, while the Senate aims for bipartisan support and avoids controversial provisions.

9/10/2023

McCarthy Faces Pressure from Hard-Right to Force Shutdown Over Border Security and Biden Impeachment

House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, faces the tough choice of either risking a government shutdown or alienating the hard-right flank of his party, which could lead to the loss of his speakership, as the House must pass a spending package to keep the federal government open before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.

9/13/2023

McCarthy Proposes 'Minibus' Spending Plan Amid GOP Disagreements

House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy proposes a "minibus" of funding bills as a way to avoid a government shutdown and address appropriations, which includes packaging regular appropriations bills covering military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Security with disaster relief funding.

9/17/2023

McCarthy Warns House Republicans to Avoid Government Shutdown

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy warns his caucus about the negative consequences of a government shutdown and emphasizes the need to pass spending bills to continue running the government.

9/17/2023

McCarthy Vows Vote on Defense Bill Despite GOP Divisions Over Spending Cuts and Shutdown Threats

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy vows to bring a defense spending bill to a vote despite resistance from hardline Republicans, as a possible government shutdown looms in two weeks amidst a Republican "civil war."

9/18/2023

McCarthy Proposes 31-Day Funding Bill With Border Wall Money, Asylum Limits to Avert Shutdown

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has demanded an 8% temporary spending cut for domestic agencies and a resumption of border wall construction to hold off a US government shutdown, but the demands are unlikely to be accepted by the Democratic-led Senate.

9/18/2023

House GOP Proposes Short-Term Spending Plan to Avoid Shutdown, Despite Signs of Internal Division

Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his allies are pushing for a short-term spending plan that includes conservative priorities, but it remains uncertain if it can pass the House and avert a government shutdown.

9/21/2023

McCarthy Fails Again to Unite Republicans as Shutdown Looms

House Republican speaker Kevin McCarthy faced his second defeat of the week as his conference failed to approve a procedural motion, further jeopardizing government spending levels and increasing the likelihood of a federal shutdown.

9/25/2023

House GOP Pursues Deep Cuts, Risking Shutdown Despite Prior Budget Deal

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is attempting to advance spending cuts that are unlikely to become law, potentially leading to a partial government shutdown, as some members of the party threaten to depose House Speaker Kevin McCarthy if he does not support steeper cuts.

9/24/2023

Budget Negotiations Stall as Lawmakers Struggle to Avert Looming Government Shutdown

Lawmakers are facing a tight deadline to reach an agreement on a budget resolution to avoid a government shutdown as spending laws are set to expire on September 30. House Republicans, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are struggling to unite the GOP caucus and secure enough votes for a deal, while Democratic support would come with political consequences. Failure to reach an agreement would result in paused paychecks for federal employees and disruption of government services.

9/26/2023

McCarthy Seeks Meeting with Biden to Discuss Shutdown, Border Issues

Speaker Kevin McCarthy is advocating for a meeting with President Biden to discuss averting a government shutdown and addressing the situation at the southern border.

9/27/2023

McCarthy Blocks Bipartisan Senate Bill to Prevent Shutdown, Citing Lack of Border Funds

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has rejected a bipartisan Senate stopgap measure that funds the government and provides aid to Ukraine, citing the lack of border security measures.

9/27/2023

Government Shutdowns Have Become a Recurring Political Standoff Every Few Years

Unless Congress acts soon, the federal government is at risk of shutting down again, leaving millions of federal workers without pay, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his caucus clash over maintaining government operations or implementing drastic spending cuts demanded by conservatives.

9/28/2023

Government Shutdown Looms as Congress Fails to Agree on Spending Bill Over Border Security Demands

The Democratic-controlled Senate plans a procedural vote on a short-term spending measure to avoid a government shutdown, which Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has rejected due to disagreements over spending levels and immigration policies.

9/28/2023

Schumer Accuses McCarthy of Reneging on Spending Deal, Increasing Odds of Government Shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accuses Speaker Kevin McCarthy of reneging on a funding agreement and warns that McCarthy's actions increase the likelihood of a government shutdown.

9/29/2023

Struggling Due to Shutdown? 5 Ways to Request Payment Relief From Landlords, Lenders, and Credit Cards

A government shutdown due to a short-term spending bill will cause financial hardship for federal employees and contractors, but there are steps they can take such as contacting their landlord or mortgage loan servicer for assistance.

9/29/2023

McCarthy Struggles to Unite House GOP as Shutdown Looms

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy insists that he will not take up Senate legislation to prevent a government shutdown, as Congress remains divided on funding and time runs out before midnight on Saturday.

9/30/2023

Government Shutdown Looms as Congress Fails to Agree on Spending Bills

Congress's failure to pass the 12 yearlong spending bills that fund the federal government has led to a looming shutdown, leaving lawmakers scrambling to find a bipartisan solution to temporarily fund federal agencies and avoid a shutdown.

9/30/2023

Biden Blames House GOP for Potential Shutdown Chaos

As Speaker Kevin McCarthy resists scheduling a House vote on a spending bill, President Joe Biden's aides believe that any government shutdown will be blamed on McCarthy and his fellow Republicans rather than the White House, according to officials.

9/30/2023

McCarthy Proposes Stopgap Bill to Prevent Shutdown, But Faces GOP Division Over Funding Disputes

House Republicans are in a funding standoff that may lead to a government shutdown, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy proposing a stopgap funding bill and facing threats from within his own party.

9/30/2023

McCarthy's Slim Majority Poses Risks for Passing GOP Agenda

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced a critical challenge as he pushed through a 45-day stopgap spending measure to keep the government funded through November and avert a shutdown, highlighting the precarious position of the GOP with their razor-thin majority.

10/1/2023

Congress Averts Shutdown with Short-Term Spending Bill, but Long-Term Funding Uncertain

Congress passes a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown, which President Biden signed into law, funding the government through November 17.

10/2/2023

McCarthy Avoids Shutdown But Faces Ongoing Threats and Pressures as Speaker

Lawmakers avoided a government shutdown by passing a 47-day stopgap funding measure, but will need to find a solution by November 17th to prevent a Thanksgiving shutdown, while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces threats to his position and potential removal from Rep. Matt Gaetz.

10/2/2023

Congress Passes Temporary Funding Bill to Avert Shutdown, But McCarthy Still Faces Pressure from Conservative Faction

Congress averted a government shutdown with a temporary deal that keeps funding at current levels until Nov. 17, providing relief for millions of Americans and avoiding a potential furlough of federal employees and delayed food assistance programs, but leaving some, like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, facing challenges and excluding additional U.S. aid to Ukraine.

10/4/2023

McCarthy Ouster Raises Shutdown Odds, May Rattle Markets Already on Edge

The ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy raises the odds of a government shutdown in November, which could negatively impact the stock market and further challenge an already struggling economy.

10/5/2023

McCarthy Fails to Secure House Speaker Nomination, Raising Fears of Shutdown and Default

Kevin McCarthy's deal with Democrats to prevent a government shutdown falls through, putting the economy at greater risk.