After numerous threats, President Donald Trump shut down the government on December 22, 2018. Lasting a whopping 35 days, this was the longest government shutdown in United States history. The government was shut down due to lack of funding for border security. President Trump along with fellow Republicans are requesting 5 billion dollars for a wall along the southern border of the United States. They believe that this is the most effective way to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States. The Democrats, voiced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, refused to pass this bill claiming the wall to be expensive and ineffective. Trump has threatened to call for a national emergency, which would give him the power to build the wall without approval from congress.

Throughout this whole shutdown, 800,000 Americans were working without pay. Services like the FBI, TSA, and National Parks services had workers working without pay. They missed two paychecks over the five week period and the Department of Housing and Urban development had to send letters to 1,500 landlords asking them not to evict the federal workers. National Parks also suffered a great deal during the shutdown. Due to lack of staff, trash has built up in the parks and many of the natural resources have been damaged.

The shutdown ended temporarily on January 25, 2019, but if funding for border security is not settled by February 15, 2019, the government will continue it’s shutdown. Many believe that this is likely to happen and are frustrated that Democrats and Republicans are not coming to an agreement. This shutdown has really shown the American people the our government is completely divided and too stubborn to work with each other. Hopefully both sides can come to an agreement before February 15th or 800,000 federal workers will be without pay again.