U.S. shutdown over budget impasse

The United States has entered its fourth period of government shutdown in 25 years, but the first to occur when a single party – the Republicans – controls both houses of Congress and the White House
NOV 1995
Disagreement between Republican-controlled Congress and Democratic President Bill Clinton (inset) over spending levels partially shuts down government. About 800,000 federal workers are laid off during five-day lapse in funding

DEC 1995 - JAN 1996
Budgetary standoff between House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Clinton – over Medicare health insurance
programme for elderly and other issues – grinds government to a halt for record four weeks. Shutdown idles about 280,000 workers. Opinion polls show majority of Americans blame Republicans


OCT 2013
Shutdown occurs after Republicans in House of Representatives attempt to use budget to delay or cut funding to Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. About 800,000 federal workers are laid off during
17-day impasse

JAN 2018
Republican President Donald Trump and Congress fail to pass short-term budget bill that has become entangled in immigration
debate. Democrats want President Trump to protect 800,000 “Dreamers” – people brought to U.S. illegally as children, who face deportation 

Source: Congressional Research Service
Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images