All articles tagged with #government shutdowns
Iran is extending government shutdowns and closing public offices to manage severe power and water shortages caused by extreme heat and an ongoing energy crisis, with temperatures reaching up to 122°F and recent regional conflicts exacerbating the situation.
The federal government is at risk of shutting down again if Congress fails to reach a funding solution by October 1. In the past four decades, there have been 20 government shutdowns, with some lasting over a week. The longest shutdown occurred in 2019 under President Donald Trump, lasting 34 days. Shutdowns have often been the result of disagreements between political parties, such as the 1995 shutdowns during President Bill Clinton's tenure. The fate of millions of federal workers and the availability of government services hang in the balance as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his caucus struggle to find common ground on funding and spending cuts.
Ronald Reagan had the most government shutdowns, with eight occurring during his presidency. However, these shutdowns were short-lived, some lasting only hours, and were the result of a 1980 memo from Democratic attorney general Benjamin Civiletti. Prior to this memo, the federal government would continue functioning even without funding, under the assumption that funding would eventually come through. Since 1995, government shutdowns have become longer and more painful, with Republicans controlling the House during each shutdown since then.