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

Clinton T. Brass
Analyst in Government Organization and Management

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.

For questions concerning the impact of a shutdown on a specific agency or program, congressional operations, or judicial operations, see the contact information for CRS subject matter experts that is listed in CRS Report R41723, Funding Gaps and Government Shutdowns: CRS Experts, by Clinton T. Brass. See also the “Key Policy Staff” table at the end of this report.

For more information about the federal courts, see CRS Memorandum, Government Shutdown: Possible Effects on Federal Judiciary Operations, by Lorraine H. Tong and Denis Steven Rutkus (available from the authors; see “Key Policy Staff” table at the end of this report).

For analysis of potential effects of a shutdown on the Department of Defense, see CRS Report R41745, Government Shutdown: Operations of the Department of Defense During a Lapse in Appropriations, by Stephen Daggett.

For discussion of funding gaps, see CRS Report RS20348, Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview, by Jessica Tollestrup.

For an annotated list of historical documents and other resources related to past government shutdowns, see CRS Report R41759, Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources, by Jared Conrad Nagel and Justin Murray.


Date of Report: September 27, 2011
Number of Pages: 20
Order Number: RL34680
Price: $29.95

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