The Impact and Futility of Government Shutdowns: A Look at the Past and Present

Congress is facing the possibility of another government shutdown as Republicans in the House struggle to agree on a plan to fund federal agencies beyond the September 30 deadline. Government shutdowns have become more frequent in recent years, with the most recent one in 2018 causing $3 billion in permanent losses. Since 1980, there have been a total of 14 government shutdowns, with the longest lasting 21 days. The current funding fight revolves around disagreements over spending cuts, immigration, and the funding of a border wall.