How the current budget crisis made the Trump era’s shutdowns the longest on record?

The budget crisis that has halted the activities of the federal government in the United States has entered its fourth week, with the shutdown reaching its 22nd day.

With this duration, President Donald Trump has broken the record for the longest government shutdown in US history based on the total length of interruptions during his term.

Under the Trump administration, the federal government first shut down for 36 days in 2018.

As the current crisis, which began on October 1, continues for 22 days, the total number of days the government has not been operational during the Republican president’s term has risen to 57.

The previous record of 56 days was held by former Democratic President Jimmy Carter.

1.4 million civil servants left without pay

During the government shutdown, only personnel performing vital services, such as doctors, soldiers, and security officers, continue to work.

The President, members of Congress, and some high-level public officials also remain at their posts. However, approximately 1.4 million federal employees have either been placed on unpaid leave or continue to work without pay.

The Washington administration also plans to permanently lay off 4,100 public employees, mostly from the Departments of the Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education, and Housing and Urban Development.

According to calculations by Oxford Economics, the government shutdown slows US economic growth by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points each week.

If the crisis lasts for three months, it is projected that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate could fall by between 1.2% and 2.4%.

Budget dispute is at the core of the crisis

The fiscal year in the US begins every October, but this year, Democrats and Republicans could not agree on the budget legislation.

Because Congress failed to pass the new budget on time, government agencies are prohibited from spending under federal law, and civil servants have been sent on compulsory leave.

The root of the crisis lies in the budget dispute between the Democrats and Republicans.

Democrats are demanding the preservation of subsidies under the health insurance program known as “Obamacare,” while Republicans want to cut spending in the “Medicaid” program.

This is the first full-scale government shutdown in seven years.

In previous years, Congress passed temporary budgets, allowing the government to continue its operations for a few months.

However, this year the parties could not agree on a temporary budget bill. The legislation requires 60 votes to pass, while the Republicans hold only 53 seats in the Senate.

Previous shutdowns in the US

Since the current budget system was enacted in 1976, the US government has shut down a total of 22 times. The first shutdown occurred in the same year under Republican President Gerald Ford.

Ford had vetoed the budget, arguing that health and social spending were excessive.

During the tenure of Ford’s successor, Democratic President Jimmy Carter, the government was shut down five times, with these interruptions totaling 56 days. In three of these crises, Congress could not agree on the circumstances under which abortion costs for low-income women would be covered by Medicaid.

After lengthy negotiations, coverage was only permitted in cases of rape and incest. Carter also vetoed funding for a nuclear aircraft carrier in 1978.

In 1979, Congress reached an agreement after debating both lawmaker salaries and abortion funding.

Under Republican Ronald Reagan, the government shut down eight times for a total of 14 days. In the first instance, the president found the budget cuts insufficient, while in the second, Congress failed to agree in time.

The reasons for subsequent shutdowns included the education budget, foreign aid to Syria and El Salvador, crime-fighting initiatives, and water projects.

The final crisis occurred due to a disagreement over the Reagan administration’s provision of financial support to the opposition movement in Nicaragua.

Under Republican George H. W. Bush, the government shut down only once, in October 1990. Bush had refused to sign the bill until measures to reduce the fiscal deficit were added to the budget.

During the term of Democrat Bill Clinton, the government was shut down twice. In November 1995, Clinton vetoed a budget that included Medicare premium increases.

In December, the government shut down again when Congress could not agree on the economic forecasts used for balancing the budget.

Under Republican George W. Bush, government operations were never halted.

The first government shutdown of the 21st century occurred in 2013 under Democrat Barack Obama.

The two parties could not agree on the financing of the Obamacare reform, which facilitated insurance access for low-income Americans. No such interruption has occurred so far under the presidency of Joe Biden.

Government shut down twice during the Trump era

During Donald Trump’s first presidential term, the government was shut down twice. The first shutdown on February 9, 2018, lasted only five hours, as the parties could not agree on immigration policy measures.

The second occurred at the end of the year due to a dispute over the financing of the planned wall on the border with Mexico.