Is this Government Gridlock On Track To Be The Longest Shutdown Since 1976?

The partial government shutdown that started Saturday, December 22, is now expected to stretch into the first weeks of January. That means it's already on track to be one of the longest ever.

This is the 21st government shutdown since Congress adopted new budgeting procedures in 1976, according to the Congressional Research Service, and it's also the third this year alone. For perspective, there were only three shutdowns in the 25 years before 2018.

---

"The history of government gridlock shows a pattern: Shutdowns are usually resolved in just a few days, or they drag on for two or three weeks."

---

The shutdowns start when the president and Congress can't agree on government funding — and the longer they last, the more they hurt the economy. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed, services are ceased and major tourist attractions close. Standard & Poor's estimated last year that shutdowns cost the U.S. $6.5 billion a week. The last major shutdown, in 2013, cost $24 billion - a rate of nearly $1.5 billion a day, according to S&P.

This is what all the partial or complete shutdowns of the past looked like:

---

ABOUT J. CECIL BOWMAN

J. Cecil Bowman, Senior Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs at NCS, is an expert in developing strategies for IVES vendors, lenders, and servicers to leverage the IRS processes in how income verification data is obtained from the IRS.

With 35 years leading many of the IRS IT initiatives as the IRS Information Technology Project Manager, he now leads NCS’ work with the IRS and the MBA to champion electronic improvements for the IRS form 4506-T.

Highlights:

• An expert on IRS systems, infrastructure, programs, and processing

• Development and deployment of web-based,self-service applications for customers

• IRS Income Verification Express Service (IVES)

• Internal Revenue Manuals

• Internal Revenue Code Section 6103 on disclosure