Government shutdowns in the United States facts for kids

A government shutdown in the United States happens when the government doesn't have enough money approved to keep running. Think of it like a family budget: if you don't have money for groceries, you can't buy food. For the government, if Congress doesn't agree on how to spend money by a certain date (the start of a new fiscal year), many parts of the government have to close down.

During a shutdown, many government offices stop working, and services are put on hold. Most government workers are sent home without pay, which is called a furlough. Only workers who do jobs that protect people's lives or property, like emergency services or national security, keep working. Shutdowns can also affect states and local areas that rely on federal funding.

What is a Government Shutdown?

A government shutdown happens when the U.S. Congress and the President can't agree on how to fund the government. They need to pass special laws, called funding bills, to give money to different government departments. If these bills aren't passed before the new budget year starts, the government runs out of money.

When this happens, the federal government has to stop many of its activities. This means that many government agencies close their doors. They stop doing things that are not considered absolutely necessary.

Who Keeps Working?

During a shutdown, most government employees are sent home. This is called being furloughed. They don't get paid during this time. However, some workers are considered essential. These are people whose jobs protect human life or property. For example, air traffic controllers, border patrol agents, and some law enforcement officers usually keep working.

How Does a Shutdown Affect People?

Shutdowns can cause a lot of problems. National parks might close, so people can't visit them. Some government services, like processing passports or loans, might be delayed. It can also hurt the economy because businesses and people who rely on government services are affected. The government also loses money from fees that aren't collected during the shutdown.

Why Do Shutdowns Happen?

Shutdowns happen because of disagreements between political leaders. In the U.S., the President and members of Congress often have different ideas about how much money the government should spend. They also disagree on what the money should be spent on.

For a funding bill to become law, both the House of Representatives and the Senate must approve it. Then, the President must sign it. If any of these groups can't agree, the funding bills don't pass. This can lead to a shutdown.

A Brief History of Shutdowns

Government shutdowns started to happen more often after 1980. That year, a legal opinion from Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti said that if funding wasn't approved, government agencies had to stop non-essential work.

At first, this rule wasn't always followed strictly. But since 1990, almost every time there has been a gap in funding for more than a few hours, it has led to a shutdown. As of early 2024, there have been 10 times when federal employees were sent home because of a shutdown.

Major U.S. Government Shutdowns

Some shutdowns have lasted a long time and had a big impact. Here are a few important ones:

• 1995–1996 Shutdown: This shutdown lasted for 21 days. It happened during President Bill Clinton’s time in office. The disagreement was about big cuts to government spending.
• 2013 Shutdown: This one lasted for 16 days. It happened when Barack Obama was President. The main reason for this shutdown was a fight over a healthcare law called the Affordable Care Act.
• 2018–2019 Shutdown: This was the longest shutdown ever, lasting 35 days. It happened during President Donald Trump’s first term. The disagreement was about funding for building more barriers along the U.S.–Mexico border, often called the Trump wall.

See also

• Loss of supply
• Budget crisis
• Deficit spending
• Cabinet crisis
• Constitutional crisis
• Gridlock (politics)
• Fiscal policy

Images for kids

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  A robot representing government services.