Timeline

2018 Government Shutdown No. 1 (FY 2018)

2018 Government Shutdown No. 1 (FY 2018)

Presidential administration: Donald Trump

According to Dylan Matthews and Andrew Prokop of Vox, motivated by external activists, Democrats aimed to pressure both the Trump Administration and Congress into safeguarding participants of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival). This policy prevented the deportation of unauthorized immigrants who had arrived in the US as children; however, its termination had been decided by the Trump administration. Due to the Democrats possessing ample votes to instigate a Senate filibuster, they, along with several Republican senators voting against it, succeeded in obstructing a bill devoid of protections for DACA beneficiaries, causing a shutdown. Nevertheless, the Democrats swiftly conceded thereafter, agreeing to finance the government (including the Children’s Health Insurance Program due for renewal) subsequent to a promise made by Majority Leader McConnell to schedule a vote on an immigration bill.

Start date: January 19, 2018 

End date: January 22, 2018

Impact: 

  • 692,900 federal workers furloughed (Wikipedia)

Related Resources:

HSDL Featured Topics: Federal Workforce Challenges | Debt Limit 

HSDL Search: Government Shutdown | Government Shutdown Agency Contingency Plans

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