Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects

Abstract

When federal agencies and programs lack appropriated funding, they experience a funding gap. Under the Antideficiency Act, they must cease operations, except in emergency situations. Failure of the President and Congress to reach agreement on interim or full-year funding measures occasionally has caused government shutdowns, the longest of which lasted 21 days, from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996. Government shutdowns have necessitated furloughs of several hundred thousand federal employees, required cessation or reduction of many government activities, and affected numerous sectors of the economy. This report discusses the causes, processes, and effects of federal government shutdowns, including potential issues for Congress.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 18, 2011
Accession Number
ADA538657

Entities

People

  • Clinton T. Brass

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Social Security
  • Surface Transportation
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting