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Here We Are Again: U.S. Government Shutdowns Over The Last 20 Years

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Here we are again, facing the threat of another government shut down.

Throughout history, the U.S. government has faced multiple shutdowns due to various disagreements between the legislative and executive branches. These shutdowns, ranging from a few days to over a month, highlight the challenges and complexities of the nation’s budgetary and legislative processes. Let’s journey through the major government shutdowns, exploring their causes and durations.

1980 – Carter’s Veto

Jimmy Carter Photo Credit_ WikiImages from pixabay
Jimmy Carter Photo Credit_ WikiImages from pixabay.

Date: May 1 – May 18 (17 days) 

Reason: President Jimmy Carter vetoed a defense bill containing funding for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Also, Carter believed many public works appropriations bills were inflationary. 

Duration: 17 days

1981 – Reagan’s First Year 

Ronald Reagan Photo Credit_ WikiImages from pixabay
Ronald Reagan Photo Credit_ WikiImages from pixabay.

Date: November 23 – November 24 (2 days) 

Reason: A disagreement over budget levels between the Democrat-controlled Congress and President Ronald Reagan. 

Duration: 2 days

1984 – Reagan: Crime Package & Civil Rights 

Empty Congress Chairs Photo Credit_ DenisKuvaev via Canva
Empty Congress Chairs Photo Credit_ DenisKuvaev via Canva.

Date: October 4 – October 5 (2 days) 

Reason: A crime-fighting package desired by Reagan and a water projects package, as well as civil rights measures that Congress attached. 

Duration: 2 days

1986 – Reagan: Welfare Package 

President Reagan Photo by wolterke via Depositphotos.
President Reagan Photo by wolterke via Depositphotos.

Date: October 17 – October 18 (2 days) 

Reason: A dispute over a welfare package and a civil rights measure. President Reagan vetoed a spending bill that contained these items. 

Duration: 2 days

1990 – George W. Bush: Deficit Reduction Disagreement 

George W. Bush Photo Credit_ Photo by oranhall via Depositphotos
George W. Bush Photo Credit_ Photo by oranhall via Depositphotos.

Date: October 6 – October 8 (3 days) 

Reason: President George H.W. Bush vowed not to continue funding the government unless Congress passed a deficit reduction package leading to a shutdown. 

Duration: 3 days

1995-1996 – Bill Clinton: Budget Showdown 

Bill Clinton Photo Credit_ Photo by ChinaImages via Depositphotos
Bill Clinton Photo Credit_ Photo by ChinaImages via Depositphotos.

Date: November 14 – November 19, 1995 (5 days) and December 16, 1995 – January 6, 1996 (21 days) 

Reason: A budgetary standoff between President Bill Clinton and Republicans led by Speaker Newt Gingrich. 

Duration: Total of 26 days

2013 – Obama: Obamacare Controversy 

President Obama Photo Credit_ Photo by ChinaImages via Depositphotos.

Date: October 1 – October 16 (16 days) 

Reason: A disagreement over the funding of the Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare,” between President Barack Obama and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. 

Duration: 16 days

2018 – Trump: Immigration & Budget Cap 

President Trump Photo by gints.ivuskans via Depositphotos
President Trump Photo by gints.ivuskans via Depositphotos.

Date: January 20 – January 22 (3 days) 

Reason: A dispute over immigration between President Donald Trump and Congress, especially regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. 

Duration: 3 days

2018-2019 – Trump: The Border Wall Dispute 

Border Wall Photo Credit_ grandriver from Getty Images Signature via Canva
Border Wall Photo Credit_ grandriver from Getty Images Signature via Canva.

Date: December 22, 2018 – January 25, 2019 (35 days) 

Reason: President Donald Trump’s demand for funding a border wall with Mexico was the primary cause. It remains the longest U.S. government shutdown in history. 

Duration: 35 days

Conclusion 

Library of Congress Photo Credit_ brunocoelhopt from Getty Images via Canva
Library of Congress Photo Credit_ brunocoelhopt from Getty Images via Canva.

– Government shutdowns have been caused by a variety of disagreements over the years.

– The length varies, with some shutdowns lasting only a few days, while others extend for weeks.

Note: This presentation highlights major government shutdowns in the past 20 years and their primary causes. The U.S. government has experienced additional shutdowns, and some of the aforementioned ones had multiple factors involved. For a detailed understanding, an in-depth look into each shutdown is recommended.

Lustful Leaders: A List of US Presidents Who Couldn’t Resist Temptation

Dwight D Eisenhower and Kay Summersby
Dwight D Eisenhower and Kay Summersby. Photo Credit: Public Domain.

The personal lives of the United States Presidents have been the subject of much curiosity and speculation over the years. While many are remembered for their political achievements, some have also gained notoriety for their extramarital affairs. From Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton, there have been several presidents who have been involved in scandals related to their romantic relationships.

While some of these affairs were kept secret for years, others were widely known and had a significant impact on the president’s reputation and legacy. This partial list explores the intimate lives of the commanders-in-chief, shedding light on the affairs that have shaped their personal and political histories.

Read: Lustful Leaders: A List of US Presidents Who Couldn’t Resist Temptation

The Secret Children and Grandchildren of US Presidents from Past to Present

Hunter Biden..
Photo credit: TM via CreativeCommons.

There is quite a history of American Presidents having children and grandchildren out of wedlock, dating back decades to the most current 46th POTUS.

This topic surfaced recently when President Joe Biden acknowledged he has seven, rather than six, grandchildren from his two sons, Beau and Hunter Biden. So we decided to see what company they were in.

READ: The Secret Children and Grandchildren of US Presidents from Past to Present

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