December 21, 2018
A partial government shutdown began in the United States after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to agree on a budget, primarily due to disputes over funding for a border wall.
Washington D.C., United States | United States Government
On December 21, 2018, the United States entered a partial government shutdown following a failure by Congress and President Donald Trump to reach an agreement on a budget. The primary point of contention was funding for a proposed border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a key promise of President Trump’s 2016 election campaign.
Border Wall Funding: President Trump demanded $5.7 billion for the construction of the border wall, which he argued was essential for national security and immigration control. This demand was met with resistance from Democratic lawmakers, who opposed the wall on both practical and ethical grounds.
Political Climate: The shutdown occurred during a period of heightened political tension. The Democrats had recently gained control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, which added to the complexity of negotiations.
Previous Short-Term Funding: Prior to the shutdown, the government had been operating on a series of short-term funding bills, known as continuing resolutions, which temporarily extended funding while negotiations continued.
December 19, 2018: The Senate passed a stopgap funding bill that did not include the requested border wall funding. However, President Trump indicated he would not sign any bill that did not meet his demands.
December 20, 2018: The House of Representatives, still under Republican control, passed a bill that included the $5.7 billion for the wall. However, this bill was not expected to pass in the Senate, where a 60-vote supermajority was required.
December 21, 2018: As the deadline for funding approached, no agreement was reached, leading to the partial shutdown of the federal government.
Duration: The shutdown lasted 35 days, making it the longest in U.S. history, until it ended on January 25, 2019.
Affected Services: Approximately 800,000 federal employees were either furloughed or required to work without pay. Essential services continued, but many government operations were disrupted, including national parks, museums, and various federal agencies.
Economic and Social Effects: The shutdown had significant economic impacts, including delayed paychecks for federal workers, disruptions in government contracts, and a slowdown in economic growth. It also led to public protests and increased political pressure on both parties to reach a resolution.
Resolution: The shutdown ended when President Trump agreed to a temporary funding measure to reopen the government without securing the wall funding. This allowed for further negotiations, but the issue of border security continued to be a contentious topic in U.S. politics.
The 2018-2019 government shutdown highlighted deep partisan divides in the U.S. political landscape, particularly on issues of immigration and border security. It underscored the challenges of governance in a divided government and set the stage for ongoing debates over immigration policy and executive authority. The shutdown also demonstrated the significant impact that political stalemates can have on federal operations and the lives of American citizens.
Source: www.nytimes.com