Government shutdowns in the United States

Government shutdowns occur when federal appropriations lapse, requiring agencies to suspend activities that lack legal funding while continuing certain exempt or otherwise funded operations.

Appropriations: Legal authority for federal agencies to spend money, generally provided by Congress for a specified period or purpose. A lapse in appropriations leaves affected agencies without authority to incur many new obligations.
Antideficiency Act Amendments of 1980 and 1981: Amendments that strengthened restrictions on federal spending beyond available appropriations and clarified exceptions. They helped establish the legal framework behind modern shutdown procedures.
United States federal government shutdown of 1995–1996: A pair of U.S. federal funding lapses in late 1995 and early 1996 during a budget dispute between President Bill Clinton and congressional Republicans. The 21-day second lapse became a prominent example of a prolonged shutdown.
Federal employee back pay: Compensation paid to federal employees for work periods in the past, including shutdown furloughs covered by law. Federal employees generally receive pay for shutdown periods after funding is restored.
Government shutdown: A suspension or reduction of government operations caused by a disruption in authority, funding, or political control. The U.S. federal case is one specific form of a broader governmental interruption.
Antideficiency Act: A federal law that generally bars agencies from spending or obligating funds beyond available appropriations. It requires agencies to stop unfunded operations when appropriations lapse.
Benjamin Civiletti: A U.S. attorney general who issued 1980 and 1981 opinions on federal operations during appropriations gaps. His opinions concluded that many agencies had to suspend operations during funding lapses.
United States federal government shutdown of 2013: A 16-day U.S. federal funding lapse in October 2013 amid a dispute over the Affordable Care Act. It illustrates how disagreement over policy can block a funding agreement.
National parks of the United States: Federally managed protected areas and historic sites administered chiefly by the National Park Service. Shutdowns can close facilities or limit services at these sites, depending on agency plans.
Debt-ceiling crisis: A dispute over raising or suspending the statutory limit on federal borrowing, risking delayed payments or default. It can threaten federal payments even when agencies still have appropriated funds.

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Political polarization in the United StatesBroader topic: Funding disputes show how partisan conflict can disrupt ordinary government operations.