Beginning on Dec. 22 of 2018, this government shutdown was the longest in history lasting 35 days. It ended on Jan. 25.

The majority of the government funding that is put in place by Congress at the budget year beginning in Oct. 1, but other agencies had been running on a series of temporary extensions. The final extensions expired on Dec. 21 at midnight. Since these agencies didn’t have funding, they were partially shut down.

In this instance, the shutdown was due to Trump demanding that Congress funds the southern border wall with $5.7 million. He believes it is the only solution to control the illegal immigration that occurs across this boarder. Democratic leaders have continued to resist beginning in August causing Trump to threaten to shut down.

This event affected government workers nationwide with hundreds of thousands of employees working with no pay. Since they have gone so long without pay, rent and many other bills have been left unpaid and are piling up. There have been protests in various cities lead by the people who have been negatively affected.

           According to the New York Times, “Native American tribes have missed out on millions of dollars in federal funding for basic services, farmers have been squeezed by issues with loans and payments, and states have written checks to keep some services and properties, like the Statue of Liberty, running normally.”

When the government is shutdown, many agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Department of inistration, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Both sides are completely stubborn in their beliefs and hatred of the other side. They just cannot stand the other side and are not willing to compromise,” Mr. Wesley stated.

Trump originally ended this shutdown giving lawmakers three weeks, ending on Feb. 15, to create a boarder agreement. If this passed without an agreement, the government would resume its shutdown.

On the Feb. 15, lawmakers hadn’t made an agreement but instead of shutting the government down, Trump declared a national emergency. During this event, Trump will have the power to “freeze bank accounts, seize commodities, seize and control all communication, assign military forces, and limit travel,” according to a 2007 Congressional Research Service Report.

The declaration will enable Trump to divert billions of dollars from other government agencies and departments to building the wall.